Japan

Broadcast media

a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 5 national terrestrial television networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2008)

Internet country code

.jp

Internet hosts

54.846 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 2

Internet users

99.182 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 3

Telephone system

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 3 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

40.419 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 6

Telephones - mobile cellular

121 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 8

Agriculture - products

rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish

Budget

revenues: $1.776 trillion expenditures: $2.221 trillion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Central bank discount rate

0.3% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 141 0.3% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

1.475% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 1.475% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

$166.5 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 $142.2 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.719 trillion (30 June 2011) country comparison to the world: 6 $2.441 trillion (30 September 2010)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.6 (2008) country comparison to the world: 77 24.9 (1993)

Economy - overview

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. Both features are now eroding under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. A tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan imports about 60% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular - a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2010 stood as the third-largest economy in the world after China, which surpassed Japan in 2001. The Japanese financial sector was not heavily exposed to sub-prime mortgages or their derivative instruments and weathered the initial effect of the recent global credit crunch, but a sharp downturn in business investment and global demand for Japan's exports in late 2008 pushed Japan further into recession. Government stimulus spending helped the economy recover in late 2009 and 2010. Prime Minister KAN's government has proposed opening the agricultural and services sectors to greater foreign competition and boosting exports through free-trade agreements, but debate continues on restructuring the economy and funding new stimulus programs in the face of a tight fiscal situation. Japan's huge government debt, which exceeds 200% of GDP, persistent deflation, reliance on exports to drive growth, and an aging and shrinking population are major long-term challenges for the economy. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake and an ensuing tsunami devastated the northeast coast of Honshu Island on 11 March 2011, washing away buildings and infrastructure as much as 6 miles inland, killing thousands, severely damaging several nuclear power plants, displacing and leaving homeless more than 320,000 people, and leaving a million households without running water. Radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichai nuclear power plant prompted mass evacuations and the declaration of a no-fly zone - initially for people and planes within 12.5 miles of the plant but later expanded to 19 miles. Radioactive iodine-131 has been found as far as 100 miles from the plant in samples of water, milk, fish, beef, and certain vegetables, at levels that make these foods unfit for consumption and create uncertainty regarding possible long-term contamination of the area. Energy-cutting efforts by electric companies and train lines slowed the pace of business throughout Honshu Island, and the stock market gyrated, dropping as much as 10% in a single day. In order to stabilize financial markets and retard appreciation of the yen, the Bank of Japan injected more than $325 billion in yen into the economy. Estimates of the direct costs of the damage - rebuilding homes and factories - range from $235 billion to $310 billion. Some economic forecasters, who previously had anticipated slower growth for Japan in 2011, now believe GDP may decline as much as 1% for the year.

Electricity - consumption

963.9 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

982.3 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Exchange rates

yen (JPY) per US dollar - 87.78 (2010) 93.57 (2009) 103.58 (2008) 117.99 (2007) 116.18 (2006)

Exports

$730.1 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $545.3 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals

Exports - partners

China 19.4%, US 15.7%, South Korea 8.1%, Hong Kong 5.5%, Thailand 4.4% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.459 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.31 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 $4.146 trillion (2009 est.) $4.424 trillion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 24.9% services: 73.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$34,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $32,600 (2009 est.) $34,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 -6.3% (2009 est.) -1.2% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 27.5% (2008)

Imports

$639.1 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $501.6 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials

Imports - partners

China 22.1%, US 9.9%, Australia 6.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.2%, UAE 4.2%, South Korea 4.1%, Indonesia 4.1% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

16.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Industries

among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 -1.3% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Labor force

62.97 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.9% industry: 26.2% services: 69.8% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.1 trillion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 4 $3.378 trillion (31 December 2009) $3.22 trillion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

100.3 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - imports

98.01 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Natural gas - production

3.397 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Natural gas - proved reserves

20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Oil - consumption

4.452 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Oil - exports

366,800 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Oil - imports

4.394 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Oil - production

131,800 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Oil - proved reserves

44.12 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Population below poverty line

15.7% (2007) note: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) press release, 20 October 2009

Public debt

199.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 194.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.063 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 $1.024 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$16.46 trillion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 1 $15.43 trillion (31 December 2009)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$795.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $738.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$199.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $199.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$16.39 trillion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 $13.32 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.047 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1 $5.246 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Unemployment rate

5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 5% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 377,915 sq km country comparison to the world: 62 land: 364,485 sq km water: 13,430 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than California

Climate

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Coastline

29,751 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 88.43 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%) per capita: 690 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

36 00 N, 138 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location in northeast Asia

Irrigated land

25,160 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 11.64% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 87.46% (2005)

Location

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons volcanism: both Unzen (elev. 1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (elev. 1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu

Natural resources

negligible mineral resources, fish note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous

Total renewable water resources

430 cu km (1999)

Administrative divisions

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Capital

name: Tokyo geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

3 May 1947

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku local short form: Nihon/Nippon

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John V. ROOS embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300 telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle consulate(s): Anchorage, Nashville

Executive branch

chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Yoshihiko NODA (since 30 August 2011) cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: Diet designates the prime minister; constitution requires that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, the leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary

Flag description

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Government type

a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy

Independence

3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet)

Legal system

civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

Legislative branch

bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for fixed six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for maximum four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs); the prime minister has the right to dissolve the House of Representatives at any time with the concurrence of the cabinet elections: House of Councillors - last held on 11 July 2010 (next to be held in July 2013); House of Representatives - last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held by August 2013) election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - DPJ 31.6%, LDP 24.1%, YP 13.6%, NK 13.1%, JCP 6.1%, SDP 3.8%, others 7.7%; seats by party - DPJ 106, LDP 84, NK 19, YP 11, JCP 6, SDP 4, others 12 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party (by proportional representation) - DPJ 42.4%, LDP 26.7%, NK 11.5%, JCP 7.0%, SDP 4.3%, others 8.1%; seats by party - DPJ 308, LDP 119, NK 21, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 16 (2009)

National anthem

name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign) lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI note: adopted 1999; in use as unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor

National holiday

Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)

National symbol(s)

red sun disc; chrysanthemum

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Yoshihiko NODA]; Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Sadakazu TANIGAKI]; New Komeito or NK [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]; People's New Party or PNP [Shizuka KAMEI]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho FUKUSHIMA]; Your Party or YP [Yoshimi WATANABE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: business groups; trade unions

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Background

In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains a major economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killing thousands and damaging several nuclear power plants. The catastrophe hobbled the country's economy and its energy infrastructure, and severely strained its capacity to deal with the humanitarian disaster.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 27,301,443 females age 16-49: 26,307,003 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 22,390,431 females age 16-49: 21,540,322 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 623,365 female: 591,253 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai, MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2011)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; Maritime Self-Defense Force mandatory retirement at age 54 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.1% (male 8,521,571/female 8,076,173) 15-64 years: 64% (male 40,815,840/female 40,128,235) 65 years and over: 22.9% (male 12,275,829/female 16,658,016) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

7.31 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Death rate

10.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 117

Ethnic groups

Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6% note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Health expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 40

Hospital bed density

13.75 beds/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 1

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.78 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 218 male: 2.98 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

Japanese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.25 years country comparison to the world: 5 male: 78.96 years female: 85.72 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2002)

Major cities - population

TOKYO (capital) 36.507 million; Osaka-Kobe 11.325 million; Nagoya 3.257 million; Fukuoka-Kitakyushu 2.809 million; Sapporo 2.673 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 161

Median age

total: 44.8 years male: 43.2 years female: 46.7 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.1% (2000) country comparison to the world: 65

Physicians density

2.063 physicians/1,000 population (2006) country comparison to the world: 61

Population

126,475,664 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Population growth rate

-0.278% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

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)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.21 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 218

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.1% country comparison to the world: 109 male: 10.1% female: 8% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 67% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting

Airports

176 (2010) country comparison to the world: 34

Airports - with paved runways

total: 144 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 27 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 28 (2010)

Heliports

15 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 673 country comparison to the world: 16 by type: bulk carrier 152, cargo 31, carrier 3, chemical tanker 28, container 2, liquefied gas 63, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 120, petroleum tanker 152, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 52, vehicle carrier 54 foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) registered in other countries: 3,064 (Bahamas 93, Belize 1, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 19, China 2, Cyprus 19, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 84, Indonesia 7, Isle of Man 15, Liberia 102, Malaysia 4, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 41, Netherlands 1, Panama 2347, Philippines 82, Portugal 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sierra Leone 3, Singapore 146, South Korea 15, Thailand 2, UK 4, Vanuatu 44, unknown 4) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 4,135 km; oil 171 km; oil/gas/water 53 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama

Railways

total: 26,435 km country comparison to the world: 11 standard gauge: 3,978 km 1.435-m gauge (3,978 km electrified) narrow gauge: 96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified); 22,313 km 1.067-m gauge (15,235 km electrified); 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 1,203,777 km country comparison to the world: 5 paved: 961,366 km (includes 7,560 km of expressways) unpaved: 242,411 km (2008)

Waterways

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010) country comparison to the world: 46