Japan, or Nippon Koku, is an island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, in Eastern Asia. It lies east of the Korean Peninsula, and its closest neighbors are Korea, Russia, and China. Japan consists of several thousands of islands. The four primary islands are Honshu (the largest of the islands, accounting for over sixty percent of total area of Japan), Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Each of the islands is separated by narrow straits and forms a natural entity. The islands are very mountainous; in fact more than seventy-five percent of Japan is covered with mountains and thick forests. These areas are virtually uninhabited. Therefore, most of the population lives on the coast. Japan’s total area is approximately 377,815 square miles, a relatively small country. The size of Japan is comparable to that of Italy and slightly larger than the United Kingdom.

Although it’s not one of the largest countries, it is one of the most populated. It has a population of over 125 million people. Japan is three times more densely populated than Europe as a whole. The population has more than tripled since 1872. As with most countries the biggest concentration of people is in the cities, namely, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. About seventy-seven percent of the population lives in urban areas. This results in extremely high land prices in the cities. Therefore, the government has spent considerable effort developing a transportation system from the suburbs to the city.

Japan is located in the middle latitudes of the Earth and is generally a rainy country with high humidity. It does, however, cover a wide range of latitude, equivalent to the distance between New York and Mexico City. The altitude and location with respect to the ocean also help contribute to the climate. The southwestern and central region experience very mild winters and very long, hot and humid summers. Heavy snow and long winters can be found in northern Japan with short, mild summers. The rainy season is between early June to July. Rainfall is abundant, ranging from 1,000 millimeters to 2,500 millimeters per year. As many as five or six typhoons strike the island between August and December, bringing disastrous winds and large amounts of rainfall. Two ocean currents effect the climate: Kuroshio and Oyshio. The warmer one is Kuroshio and is known as the Black Current. Oyshio is cooler and is called the Parent Current.

Natural disasters often plague the living habits and conditions of the Japanese. Volcanoes and earthquakes are the two most common natural disasters. Because the country lies on the meeting point of several continental plates, volcanoes are common. Actually, ten percent of the active volcanoes in the world are found in Japan. Located on the highest point in Japan, Mount Fuji is the most famous volcano. In addition to the volcanoes, nearly 1,500 earthquakes are recorded yearly, making Japan one of the most active earthquake regions in the world. Almost daily, minor tremors occur in some part of the country. Major earthquakes are rare, however. Because of the many disasters, Japan has become a world leader in research on causes and prediction of earthquakes.

The family traditions, values, and beliefs of the Japanese are different from those of the United States. With changes in time however, Japan is becoming more modernized and the old traditions are dying out, or becoming less evident.

The family structure of the Japanese culture has been built on many long-standing traditions. Most traditions are still followed, but some are disappearing. Previously, family ties were very close-knit. Many generations of the family would live together under one roof. The wife ran the household and was the chief bearer of the family’s money. All income received by the husband went into the wife’s account and the family’s budget was based from that. Family businesses and inheritances were passed to the eldest son. If there was not a son, the daughter would marry a second-born son of another family and he would be adopted into the daughter’s family. The couple would then take over the family possessions. Marriages were usually arranged, with a matchmaker, a nakodo joining two families to see if they wanted to marry. Though the marriage was arranged, it had to be a mutual agreement between the families. There are two types of marriages in Japan; one, a shinto style, which takes place in a very elegant hotel and the wedding is very expensive and two, church weddings, which are smaller with mostly family in attendance. The majority of Japanese weddings are Shinto style.

The Japanese believe that it is more important to have agreeable relations with others through their fulfillment of social obligations rather than the individual relationship with God. The Japanese social interaction is characterized by three values: harmony, order, and self-development. Positive relations with others are rewarded while anti-social behavior is condemned in Japanese society. The Japanese depend heavily on each other. Communication with others is an important and vital tool in the Japanese society, and so it is taught at an early age. Despite all of these beliefs, competition in Japan is very evident, although not within one’s particular group.

Many religions are practiced throughout Japan. The most popular are Shinto and Buddhism. The followers of the Shinto religion believe that spirits and gods with varying degrees of power govern the world. The religion came from ancient Japanese legends. With the introduction of Buddhism, Shinto began to die off, however. The Buddhists believe in the concept of rebirth, ideas of karmic causation, and an emphasis on unity of experience. Different branches of Buddhism emphasized different views. One sect stressed experience and faith, promising salvation in the afterlife. Each sect preached a different view, but the underlying theme was always the same. Meditation and virtuous lifestyle was important to the Buddhists. Although there are many different religions, most Japanese follow the same religious practices, as far as wedding and funerals and other events go. Less than one percent of the population practice Christianity. It was banned in Japan from the mid-seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, because it was considered a threat to Japanese political control.

Japanese take a great deal of pride in their educational system. The school year starts in April and lasts until late January. Elementary school lasts about six years, and then there is three years of middle school, followed by three years of high school and four years of college. While in high school, students attend school during the day and then night courses, which cover lessons for college. Japanese schooling focuses on learning, not memorization. They are also taught life lessons. The expectations are extremely high and the standards of education are rigorous. Schooling in Japan is very stressful, and because of this, the suicide rate is very high.

The economy in Japan has transformed over the years. It has grown from an agricultural base to an industrialized nation. Trends have shown that most of the people are employed in manufacturing, business, financing, service, and communication. This has created great wealth, yet also increased pollution outputs. Rice remains the most prevalent crop. Japan’s gross national product is one of the highest in the world. It is a very productive country. Workers are accustomed to enduring long hours each day. Employee conditions are getting better, however. Laws are being formed to protect the workers’ rights. Many occupations are unionized. Graduation from top universities and schools provide for landing the best jobs. Laws also prohibit gender discrimination and require equal pay for both sexes. Japan’s economy is steadily expanding, allowing it to become closer to the other "top-notch" economies.

Japan is a very resource deficient country. It relies heavily on imports from other countries to maintain itself. With virtually no oil reserves, oil accounts for a large portion of Japan’s imports. One of the biggest resources is lumber. However, the supply does not meet the demand. Considering Japan has a large amount of coast, fishing is a huge industry. Fishing reserves off the coast have given the economy support for years. Japan’s most important resource is its people. The people of Japan are well educated and work extremely hard. Without the people, Japans growing industries would not be as successful as they are.

The Japanese political system is divided into three parties: the Japanese Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the New Party. The oldest of the three, the Japanese Communist Party, started out as a socialist party. However, this party has now been transformed into a democratic one. The Liberal Democratic Party bases its principles on the aspects of freedom. It strives to promote world peace. The New Party emphasizes the importance of independence and responsibility in politics.

Japan is a country on the rise. Although its heritage and beliefs are strongly instilled in its people, the country is becoming more Americanized everyday. The American image is becoming more and more popular to the Japanese people. Despite this, the Japanese culture will never die.