General situation of Japan

[Name] Japan.

[Area] The land area is about 378,000 square kilometers, including Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu and more than 6,800 other small islands.

[Population] About 123.8 million (August 2025). The main ethnic group is Yamato, and there are about 13,000 Ainu people in Hokkaido. Common Japanese. The main religions are Shinto and Buddhism.

【首 都】 东京（Tokyo）。人口约1410万（2025年8月）。

【国家象征】 天皇德仁（Naruhito），2019年5月1日即位，年号“令和”。

【重要节日】 天皇生日：2月23日。建国纪念日：2月11日（系按阳历推算出的公元前7世纪日本第一代天皇神武天皇元年的元旦）。

【简 况】 位于太平洋西岸，是一个由东北向西南延伸的弧形岛国。西隔东海、黄海、朝鲜海峡、日本海与中国、朝鲜、韩国、俄罗斯相望。属温带海洋性季风气候，终年温和湿润。6月多梅雨，夏秋季多台风。1月平均气温北部－6°C，南部16°C；7月北部17°C，南部28°C。

日本位于环太平洋火山地震带，地震、火山活动频繁。全球有1／10的火山位于日本，1／5的地震发生在日本。1995年发生的阪神大地震、2004年新澙县中越地震造成重大人员财产损失，引起世界关注。2011年3月11日，日本发生里氏9.0级特大地震，并引发海啸和核电站泄漏事故，被称为“日本战后以来最严重的危机”。2024年1月1日，日本本州岛中部发生里氏6.9级的能登半岛地震，造成重大人员伤亡和财产损失。

Japan was defeated in World War II and declared unconditional surrender on August 15th, 1945. In the early post-war period, the US military occupied Japan alone, and in 1947, it promulgated and implemented a new constitution, which changed from an imperial country to a parliamentary cabinet country with the emperor as the national symbol. After the war, it pursued the line of "emphasizing economy and neglecting armaments" and became the second largest economic country in the West in the late 1960s. Since the mid-1980s, the goal of becoming a political power has been put forward. In the 1990s, the economy fell into a long-term downturn, and it recovered slowly since 2002, with the longest recovery time after the war. Since 2008, the economic recovery has been frustrated by the international financial crisis and the March 11th earthquake. After Shinzo Abe came to power again at the end of 2012, he pushed the "Abenomics" and implemented a series of economic stimulus policies, which boosted the Japanese economy to some extent. Before the COVID-19 epidemic, Japanese stock market rose, export increased and consumption picked up. After kishida fumio came to power, he proposed to build "new capitalism", promote a virtuous circle of economic growth and income distribution, strengthen economic security, and revise the neo-liberal economic line including "Abenomics". Regard revitalizing Japan’s economy as the top priority, focusing on coping with rising prices and depreciation of the yen, raising national income, and promoting economic growth through investment and reform. Diplomatically, Japan adheres to the Japan-US alliance, attaches importance to multilateral diplomacy, and strives to play an important role in international affairs.

[Politics] The legislative, judicial and administrative powers are separated. The emperor is a national symbol and has no right to participate in state affairs. Congress is the highest power and the only legislature, divided into two chambers. The Cabinet is the highest administrative organ and is responsible to the National Assembly. The Prime Minister (also known as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet) is elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the Emperor.

At present, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party are in power jointly. The ruling party holds a stable majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

[Constitutional Law] The current Constitution of Japan was promulgated and implemented on May 3, 1947. Article 9 of the Constitution stipulates: "Japan will forever give up waging war, threatening to use force or using force as a means to resolve international disputes. To achieve this goal, Japan will not maintain land, sea, air force and other war forces, and will not recognize the country’s right to engage in war." This has become an important guarantee for Japan to take the road of peaceful development after the war, and it is also an important guarantee for Japan as a peaceful country.

The National Assembly consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is the highest authority and the only legislature. The number of members of the House of Representatives is 465, with a term of four years. The Prime Minister has the right to ask the Emperor to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold a general election. The Senate has a fixed number of 248 members, with a term of six years, and half of them are re-elected every three years, and cannot be dissolved halfway. In power, the House of Representatives is superior to the Senate. The usual Congress is held from January to June every year for 150 days. At other times, temporary and special parliaments can be convened as needed. SEKIGUCHI Masakazu, Speaker of the Senate, took office in November 2024. Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives, took office in November 2024.

[Government] The Cabinet is the highest administrative organ and is responsible to the National Assembly. It consists of the Prime Minister of the Cabinet (the Prime Minister) and the ministers in charge of various provincial offices. The Prime Minister of the Cabinet is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the Emperor. Other cabinet members are appointed and removed by the Prime Minister of the Cabinet and certified by the Emperor. The main members of the current cabinet are: Prime Minister Shi Pomao, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister for Reducing the Burden of Okinawa Base, Lin Fangzheng, Minister for Kidnapping, MURAKAMI Seichirou, Minister of General Affairs, and SUZUKI Keisuke, Minister of Justice. Minister of Finance and Minister in Charge of Extraordinary Affairs (Finance) of Cabinet Office, KATOU Katsunobu, Minister of Deflation Relief, IWAYA Takeshi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, ABE Toshiko, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, FUKUOKA Takamaro, KOIZUMI Shinjiro, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Minister of Atomic Energy Economy Victims, Minister of Green Transformation Promotion, Minister of Industrial Competitiveness, Minister of Cabinet Office Extraordinary Responsibility (Atomic Energy Loss Compensation and Waste Furnace Support Agency) MUTOU Youji, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Water Cycle Policy, Minister of World Horticultural Exposition Yoko.(NAKAO Hiromasa), Minister of Environment and Minister Extraordinary of Cabinet Office (Atomic Energy Disaster Prevention), ASAO Keichirou, Minister of Defense (Gen Nakatani), Minister of Digitalization and Minister of Administrative Reform, Minister of National Civil Service, Minister of Network Security, TAIRA Masaaki, Minister Extraordinary in Cabinet Office (Regulatory Reform), ITOU Tadahiko, Minister for Rehabilitation and Minister for Comprehensive Accident Regeneration of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, Chairman of the National Public Security Bureau and Minister for Strengthening and Strengthening the Territory, Minister for Territorial Issues, Minister Extraordinary in Cabinet Office (Disaster Prevention and Ocean Policy) SAKAI Manabu, Minister in Cabinet Office (children’s policy, countermeasures for declining birthrate, active youth, joint participation of men and women, symbiosis and mutual assistance), minister in charge of active women, minister in charge of symbiotic society (Junko Mihara), minister in charge of economic regeneration and new capitalism, minister in charge of wage increase, minister in charge of start-up, minister in charge of all-generation social security reform, minister in charge of infectious disease crisis management, and minister in charge of disaster prevention department. AKAZAWA Ryousei, Minister Extraordinary in Cabinet Office (Economic and Fiscal Policy), Minister Extraordinary in Economic Security and Minister Extraordinary in Cabinet Office (Cool Japan Strategy, Intellectual Property Strategy, Science and Technology Policy, Cosmic Policy, Economic Security Guarantee)KIUCHI Minoru, Minister Extraordinary of Cabinet Office (Okinawa and Northern Countermeasures, Consumer and Food Safety, Local Creation, Ainu Policy), Minister of New Local Economy and Living Environment Creation, Minister of International Expo ITOU Yoshitaka, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary TACHIBANA Keichirou, AOKI Kazuhiko, SATOU Fumitoshi, and IWAO Nobuyuki, Director of Legal Affairs of the Cabinet.

[Administrative Division] It is divided into 1 prefecture (Tokyo), 1 prefecture (Hokkaido: Hokkaido), 2 prefectures (Osaka Prefecture: Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture: Kyoto) and 43 counties (provinces), with cities, towns and villages.

[Judiciary] Judicial power belongs to the Supreme Court and its subordinate courts at all levels. Adopt "four levels and three trials". The Supreme Court is the court of final appeal, hearing unconstitutional and other major cases. The High Court is responsible for the second instance, with eight courts nationwide. Each prefecture, prefecture, prefecture and county has a local court (there are four in Hokkaido), which is responsible for the first instance. There are also summary courts and family courts throughout the country, which are responsible for civil and criminal proceedings not exceeding fines. The Chief Justice (President) of the Supreme Court is nominated by the Cabinet, appointed by the Emperor, and 14 judges (judges) are appointed by the Cabinet, and are subject to national voting. Judges of other courts at all levels are nominated by the Supreme Court and appointed by the Cabinet for a term of 10 years and can be re-elected. Judges at all levels shall not be removed without formal impeachment. The current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, IMASAKI Yukihiko, took office in August 2024.

The procuratorial organs correspond to the four-level courts and are divided into the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, the Higher Prosecutor’s Office, the Local Prosecutor’s Office and the District Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors are divided into procurator-general (attorney-general), second procurator-general, procurator-general (senior procurator-general), procurator-general (local procurator-general says procurator-general is right) and deputy procurator-general. Officials above the procurator-general are appointed by the cabinet. The Minister of Justice has command over the Attorney General. The current chief procurator, UNEMOTO Naomi, took office in July 2024.

[Political parties and groups] After the war, Japan implemented "party politics", and various political parties representing different classes were successively restored or established. At present, the main political parties are: the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party; The opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, National Democratic Party, communist party, Japan Reform Association, Social Democratic Party, etc.

(1) Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): the ruling party, the largest party. In November 1955, it was formed by the merger of the former Liberal Party and the Democratic Party. Since then, it has been in power alone for 38 years. In 1993, he went out of office, and later formed a joint regime with other parties several times. Since April 2000, it has been in power jointly with Komeito Party and Conservative Party. In November 2003, the Liberal Democratic Party absorbed the conservative new party, one of the three former ruling parties, and formed a joint ruling situation with the Komeito Party. In August 2009, the Liberal Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat in the House of Representatives election and became an opposition party again. In December 2012, he won the House of Representatives election and returned to power. It advocates that we should base ourselves on the concept of democratic politics, maintain the free economic system, amend the constitution, adhere to the security system of Japan and the United States, and strengthen our independent defense forces. In terms of foreign policy, it emphasizes taking the Japan-US alliance as the basic axis and actively expanding the diplomatic layout. Shi Pomao, the current president, SUGA Yoshihide, the vice president, and MORIYAMA Hiroshi, the secretary general.

(2) Komeito Party: the ruling party. It was founded in November 1964, and its mother was Sōka Gakkai, a religious group. In June 1970, the separation of church and state was implemented. In August 1993, he joined the non-self-democratic Coalition regime and went through a split and combination. In April 2000, the Komeito Party formed a coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Conservative Party, and became an opposition party after the House of Representatives election in August 2009, and returned to the ruling party after the House of Representatives election in December 2012. The party advocates building "Japan in the world" on the basis of pacifism, insisting on the "middle route", implementing democracy among the people, respecting local autonomy and promoting decentralization. Tetsuo Saito, the current Party representative, and NISHIDA Makoto, the Secretary-General.

(3) Constitutional Democratic Party: the largest opposition party. On September 15, 2020, it was reorganized and established by opposition parties such as the former Constitutional Democratic Party and the former National Democratic Party. The current party representative is NODA Yoshihiko and the secretary-general is OGAWA Junya.

(4) National Democratic Party: On September 15, 2020, more than 10 members of Congress, including the former leader of the National Democratic Party, Yukio Ichiro, set up a new National Democratic Party. TAMAKI Yuichiro, the current party representative, and SHIMBA Kazuya, the secretary-general.

(5) communist party, Japan: Established on July 15th, 1922, and gained legal status after the war. In the mid-1970s, it entered the peak of development, and after the 1990s, it adjusted its policy proposition again, focusing on flexibility and pragmatism. Party constitution defined the nature of the Party as "the party of the working class" and "the party of all Japanese nationals". Advocate the construction of a socialist society and even a communist society; Abolish the Japan-US security treaty and build Japan into an independent, democratic and peaceful free country. TAMURA Tomoko, Chairman of the Central Committee, and KOIKE Akira, Secretary of the Central Committee.

(6) Japan Renewal Association: established in November 2015, with Kinki area as the main sphere of influence. Advocate the establishment of Osaka Capital, realize the vice-capital of Osaka Prefecture, promote local decentralization, and break the centralization. Reform the ruling institutions, promote the revision of the constitution, and achieve universal suffrage for the prime minister. He is currently the leader of the Party, YOSHIMURA Hirofumi, and the secretary-general, IWATANI Ryouhei.

Japan is a world economic power. According to statistics, in 2024, Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) was about 557.5 trillion yen, a year-on-year increase of 0.1%. By the end of June 2025, foreign exchange reserves were 1.314 trillion US dollars. Exchange rate: 1 USD ≈147.40 yen (August 2025). Full unemployment rate: 2.5% (August 2025).

[Resources] Resources are poor, and more than 90% depend on imports, of which oil depends entirely on imports. The Japanese government actively develops new energy sources such as nuclear energy. As of February 2011, it has 54 nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 49.467 million kilowatts, ranking third in the world. After the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011, all nuclear power plants in Japan were shut down. By December 2024, six nuclear power plants operated by three power companies, including Kansai, Kyushu and Shikoku, had been restarted, with a total of 13 nuclear reactors.

Japan’s forest area is about 25.08 million hectares, accounting for nearly 2/3 of the total land area, and the forest coverage rate is about 67%, making it one of the countries with the highest forest coverage rate in the world. The self-sufficiency rate of wood is only about 20%, which is the country that imports the most wood in the world. There are many mountains and rivers in Japan, rich in hydraulic resources, with a reserve of about 135.3 billion kWh per year. Japan’s exclusive economic zone is about 10 times the size of its territory, and it is rich in fishery resources.

[Foreign Trade] Foreign trade plays an important role in the national economy, with about 200 countries (regions) having trade relations. According to the statistics of Japan’s Ministry of Finance, Japan’s total import and export in 2023 was about 211.3 trillion yen, of which exports were about 107.9 trillion yen and imports were about 112.4 trillion yen.

The main imported commodities are: crude oil, natural gas, coal, clothing, semiconductors and other electronic components, pharmaceuticals, metals and iron ore raw materials; The main export commodities are: automobiles, steel, semiconductors and other electronic components, plastics, scientific optical instruments, general machinery, chemicals and so on. The main trade target countries are China, the United States, South Korea and Australia.

[Foreign Aid] An important aid country in the world. In 2025, the total budget of government development assistance (ODA) will be about 3.8 billion US dollars.

[Military Affairs] After Japan’s defeat and surrender in 1945, the army was dissolved and its military institutions were abolished. In 1950, Japan set up the "Police Reserve", which was later renamed as the Security Guard. In 1952, the "Maritime Guard" was established. In 1954, the Air Self-Defense Force was newly established. In July, the Law on the Establishment of the Defense Agency and the Law on the Self-Defense Force were promulgated. The Security Guard and the Maritime Guard were renamed the Land Self-Defense Force and the Maritime Self-Defense Force respectively. The Army, Navy and Air Force were officially named the Self-Defense Force, and the Defense Agency and the Chief of Staff were established. In 2007, the Defense Agency was upgraded to the Ministry of Defense. On December 17th, 2013, the Japanese government formally adopted the National Security Assurance Strategy, which is the first comprehensive foreign and security policy after World War II, and based on this, the Outline of the Defense Plan and the Medium-term Defence Force Maintenance Plan (2014-2018) were determined. On July 1, 2014, the Japanese government passed a cabinet resolution to lift the right of collective self-defense. Its core content is that if countries close to Japan are attacked by force, Japan should exercise its strength within the minimum necessary scope, which should be allowed in the Constitution as a self-defense measure. In July and September, 2015, Japan passed the new security bill in the House of Representatives and the Senate respectively, which greatly strengthened the activities of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in many aspects. On December 18, 2018, the Japanese government officially adopted the new version of the Outline of the Defense Plan and the Medium-term Defense Force Maintenance Plan at the cabinet meeting. The new Outline of the Defense Plan reaffirms the adherence to exclusive defense,The basic principle of not becoming a military power is pointed out, and the security environment around Japan is "severe and uncertain". On December 16th, 2022, the Japanese government formally adopted three revised security documents: National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defence Force Maintenance Plan at the Cabinet meeting, clearly stating that Japan will develop "counterattack capability", which is another major change in Japan’s security policy after allowing the exercise of "collective self-defense". On December 22, 2023, the Japanese government held an interim cabinet meeting and a national security meeting, revised the Three Principles of Defence Equipment Transfer and its implementation guidelines, and further relaxed the restrictions on the export of weapons and equipment.

The Supreme Commander of the Self-Defense Forces is the Prime Minister, and the highest military decision-making body is the Cabinet Meeting. The "Security Conference" is the highest military deliberation body of the Cabinet. It is composed of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Chairman of the National Public Security Bureau, and the Minister of Defense, and is responsible for deliberating the defense policy, the self-defense force construction plan, and handling various emergencies. The Ministry of Defense is equivalent to the Ministry of National Defense. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, composed of the Chairman and the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Self-Defense Forces, is responsible for drawing up and adjusting the operational, training and logistics plans of the Self-Defense Forces, collecting and studying military intelligence, and uniformly commanding joint operations and exercises of more than two arms.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces carry out voluntary military service. The defense budget for 2025 is 8.7 trillion yen, increasing for 13 consecutive years.

[cultural education]

Japan’s annual research expenditure accounts for about 3.59% of GDP. Japanese school education is divided into four stages: preschool education, primary education, secondary education and higher education. The schooling system is 6 years in primary school, 3 years in junior high school, 3 years in senior high school and 4 years in university, and 9 years in junior high school. Universities include national universities, public universities and private universities. Famous national comprehensive universities include Tokyo University and Kyoto University, and famous private universities include Waseda University and Keio University. Japan attaches importance to social education, and correspondence, evening classes, radio and television education are more common.

Japan’s press and publication journalism is developed, with a large circulation of newspapers and periodicals and a wide coverage of radio and television, ranking among the top countries in the world.

There are 5 national newspapers (Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Daily News, Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun), 3 regional newspapers (China-Japan News, Hokkaido News and West Japan News) and more than 100 major local newspapers. There are about 1,900 monthly magazines and 1,000 weekly magazines. More than 70,000 books have been published. The more influential magazines are: Central Public Comment, Oriental Economy, Economist, Literary Spring and Autumn Annals, etc.

Kyodo News Agency is the largest news agency in Japan, referred to as Kyodo News Agency for short. Its predecessor was the Alliance News Agency established in January 1936. The news agency is the second largest news agency, which was founded in November 1945.

There are more than 100 radio stations in Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) and four series of private radio stations. NHK is a semi-official "public radio and television station", which was founded in March 1925.

The TV stations mainly include the semi-official "public TV station" NHK and more than 100 private TV stations belonging to five major newspapers, as well as some private satellite TV stations and private cable TV stations. Main TV stations: NHK started broadcasting TV programs in 1953, which is semi-official; Tokyo Broadcasting Corporation (TBS), established in 1951; Japan Television Network (NTV), established in 1952; TV ASAHI, established in 1957; FUJI TV was established in 1957.

[Diplomatic relations] Japan’s diplomacy is based on the Japan-US alliance and attaches importance to multilateral coordination.