Japan is located to the east of the Asian continent and shares maritime boundaries with China, and North and South Korea. Japan is an archipelago of over 6,800 islands but Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Hokkaido make up for most of the land mass. The capital city, Tokyo, is one of the largest cities in the country and the Greater Tokyo Area is the largest metropolitan area of the world. Japan's location in the Pacific Ocean has been of great significance both in terms of the country's political history and its natural environment. While the country is a constitutional monarchy most of the legislative powers of Japan are vested in an elected parliament. The country's involvement in the two world wars and its subsequent development has made it a significant influencer in the world.
Land Of The Rising Sun
The characters that represent the word 'Japan' in the Japanese script also signify that it is the land where the sun originates. It may also be due to the location of Japan in the Far East that Japan is referred to as 'The Land Of The Rising Sun'. In modern days, the term has taken on an entirely new connotation given the technological advances made by the Japanese and by Japanese companies. The upsurge in Japan's contribution to international trade and economy is a major influencer in global economic trends and in the economy of the United States.
Land Of The Resilient
Despite its breathtaking beauty, Japan's location at the convergence of three tectonic plates makes the country prone to a number of natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, floods, and typhoons. Add to this the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only nuclear attack in history, and much is to be said about the resilience of the Japan. In March 2011 an earthquake measuring 9Mw hit the eastern coast of Japan causing widespread destruction and triggering tsunami waves over 133 feet high. The subsequent meltdown of nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant caused widespread panic. Thousands were evacuated from adjoining areas. But the situation is well under control and Japan has emerged the resilient victor once again.
Land of Beauty and Culture
The mystic beauty of Japan and the country's rich culture has been a great attraction for tourists across the world. While Kyoto and Nara are famous for their elaborate temples and monasteries, Tokyo and Osaka are hubs of urban development. Japan is connected by an excellent network of trains. Tokyo's Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest station and most travelers are awed by the Shinkansen 'Bullet' train services. The rich culture of Japan goes way beyond the popular tea ceremonies and the Kabuki performances. Japan offers a diversity rivaled by few countries - from the skiing options in Niseko to diving in Okinawa and from the national parks in Yoshino-Kumano to the amazing beaches in Shizuoka and Chiba. Japanese sushi, ramen, and sashimi are now international favorites, though Japan has more much to offer by way of a culinary tour.
Land of Industry
The Tokyo Stock Exchange, Tosho is the third largest stock exchange of the world and recorded a market capitalization of US $3.8 trillion by the close of 2010. It then comes as no surprise that a number of Japanese companies have a significant global presence. Nikon, Nissan, Sony, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Honda, and Canon are now easily recognizable names across the world. The flourishing Japanese economy is the third largest in the world. The periodic setbacks caused by natural disasters are overcome by the industry of the people. Computers and electronic goods, and cars are among the country's major exports and food grains and oil feature high among the imports. The GDP of the country was at about US $5.5 trillion as of end 2010. Though affected by the Tsunami and Earthquake of 2011, the Japanese economy is well on its way to recovery.
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