constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
republic
Independence date
660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)
Religions
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized
Languages
Japanese
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Exports
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
External Debt
$3,024,000,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 103.58 (2008 est.), 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
25
0
Location
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Area
377,915 km sq
10,400 km sq
Coastline
29,751 km
225 km
Climate
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
