Terrain
Mostly rugged and mountainous
Climate
Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
People
Nationality: Japanese (singular and plural)
Population: 127,253,075 (July 2013 est.)
Language: Japanese
Religions
Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8% (Note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people belong to both Shintoism and Buddhism) (2005)
Economy
In the years following World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan develop a technologically advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-war economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force.
IMPACT OF ENERGY SHORTAGE (:46)
Living Conditions
Japanese generally enjoy good health and have the greatest life expectancy (predicted life span) in the world. Medical care is generally good and includes both modern scientific and traditional Chinese-style herbal medicines. Housing is a major problem in Japan's crowded cities. While Japanese prefer single-family houses, the enormous cost of land prevents them from having a real yard; as many as forty houses may be built on one acre. Small apartments are very common.
Government
A Parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy
US Military Presence/Support