Economic and geographical characteristics of Japan, like any other country in the world, primarily depends on its geographic location. This state of Asia, consisting of 6,852 islands in the Pacific Ocean, covers an area of only 378 thousand square kilometers. And it is located, according to this territorial indicator, just between Zimbabwe and Germany. Four islands - Hokkaido and Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu are the largest islands of the Japanese archipelago, stretching along the eastern coast of Eurasia, therefore, it is here that events flare up that determine the leading positions that Japan in the world economy.
Japan's impressive economic and geographic profile is determined by its economic position. This Island state has no land neighbors, which until 1945 more or less reliably protected it from colonialists and expansion of neighboring states. The closest maritime neighbors are Russia, separated from the patrimony of Emperor Akihito by the La Perouse Strait, and South Korea, separated by the Korea Strait of the same name. A little further located North Korea and China, but they also have the privilege of experiencing Japan's leading position in the global economy. Considering the fact that the country was for a long time at a distance from world transport routes, it itself had to become the largest point for receiving raw materials and sending finished products to many countries of the world.
The country's political position is consistent with Japan's role in the global economy. The state is a key member of the G8, the UN, ASEAN and the East Asia Summit, organizations that determine the development of the economy of the planet and humanity for many decades to come. But the country has a number of unresolved territorial issues with Russia because of the southern Kuriles, with Taiwan because of Senkaku Island, with the Republic of Korea because of the Liancourt Islands, and also with China because of Yudao Island.
The economic and geographical position of Japan is advantageous because it is an island power. This means that it has one of the longest coastlines in the world, suitable for various commercial, recreational and construction purposes. Cons of accommodation Nippon(this is the ancient name of this country), one can consider unresolved territorial problems and some isolation in the east of Eurasia from the world community.
Natural resource base
Detailed economic and geographical characteristics of Japan cannot do without analyzing its extremely poor and unfavorable natural resource potential. The peculiarity of this power is that Japan has taken a leading position in the world economy not due to mineral and natural resources, but due to their absence. Judge for yourself: the relief is unsuitable for the construction and development of land transport systems. Because the plains occupy only 21% of the entire territory of Nippon, and the mountains, respectively, 79%. Among them, about 150 pieces are peaks active volcanoes, including the national symbol - Mount Fuji. Due to the peculiarities of the formation of the Japanese Islands within the boundaries of the Pacific Volcanic Ring, 1500 earthquakes of various strengths are recorded here over the course of one year. In the major key, we can talk about the climate - temperate and subtropical, maritime, relatively favorable for farming. The soils are different - brown forest soils, yellow soils, red soils, but in general they are poor and unproductive.
Anyone who studies the economic and geographical characteristics of Japan is amazed at how it was possible to achieve such success in development, possessing such a meager amount of minerals. The country has only non-industrial reserves of coal and copper, iron ore and natural gas.
Therefore, the state, the first to meet the sun, is forced to import 99% of all the ores it consumes, 96% of all combustible minerals and 70% of the forest it uses. This focus on imported raw materials makes Japan in the world economy the largest consumer of foreign natural and mineral potential.
Population
The basis of Japan's positive economic and geographical characteristics is its population. The state is home to about 127 million people who belong to the first type of population reproduction. This means that the country is dominated by middle-aged and older people. There is a very low birth rate among the Japanese. Therefore, it is natural that there is a very low percentage of natural growth here - only 2 people for every thousand, the population of Japan is increasing over the course of one year.
The country is predominantly one-national. The Japanese, the heirs of the Ainu, occupy 99% of all its inhabitants in the country and are very reluctant to let strangers and migrants into their society. In addition, there are 127 million Buddhists in the country, and the same number are Shintoists. This is due to the fact that all Japanese profess two religions at the same time. About 80% of the country's inhabitants live in cities. Of these, 11 are millionaire cities. For example, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Yokohama, Osaka and Kyoto.
Japan is world renowned for its hard work and highly skilled workforce. The education that citizens receive is seen as another investment and very profitable branch of the economy. After all, money invested in children is returned by good taxes on the salaries of highly qualified workers.
National economy
general characteristics
The country, which occupies only 0.3% of the entire earth's land area, produces a phenomenal amount of quality gross domestic product for the entire world. For this indicator eastern state overtakes only the United States. This is the most striking feature of the economic and geographical characteristics of Japan. Japan in the world economy is the real leader in terms of the amount of produced GDP per capita - $ 24,400. In the last forty years of the 20th century, this Asian empire had the highest economic growth rate of 9.8% per year. And only in recent years has she slightly tempered her agility in this matter. The reasons for this economic and geographical characteristics of Japan were the purposeful policy of the power in the 50s of the past century. The traditional, patriarchal, agrarian empire began to actively develop industry, buying the most advanced technologies and equipment. An important role in this global change of the country was played by the professionalism and obedience of the labor force - the descendants of the samurai.
Industry
Today, the pride of the economic and geographical characteristics of Japan is its industrial complex. The powerful energy sector runs on imported oil and gas from the Persian Gulf countries and Indonesia, providing the entire complex with energy. In terms of its production, Japan confidently ranks first in the world economy. The second main branch of industry, after power engineering, is metallurgy. From predominantly imported raw materials imported from Australia, the Nippon state produces rolled products, pipes of various diameters, special steels, rolled copper, aluminum and alloyed zinc and lead alloys.
Mechanical engineering is developing on its own metallurgical base, especially transport, electrical, machine-tool and instrument-making. Japan ranks first in the world economy in the production of ships. They are followed by the production of motorcycles, cars and trucks for export. Industrial robots, office equipment, optical equipment are other branches of specialization. Japan in the world economy.
In addition, the country of cherry blossoms and stone gardens is in second place after the United States in the production of synthetic resins, dyes, plastics, acids and medicines - products of the chemical industry.
Light industry is traditionally developing - it is the manufacture of silk, woolen and cotton fabrics. In the 20th century, the production of synthetic and high-tech fabrics was added to them.
Agriculture
An insignificant role in the economic and geographical characteristics of Japan is Agriculture therefore the country is forced to import similar products. One hundred percent of the ancestors of the Ainu provide themselves only with rice, but tea, vegetables, fruits, sugar bearers are forced to import from the nearest mainland. In terms of the amount of profit and people employed in the industry, the plant industry is still in the lead over animal husbandry. The latter is distinguished by an orientation towards fish farming and catching fish, in terms of the volume and level of consumption of which Japan has no competitors in the world economy.
Transport
Transportation is another pride of Japan's economic and geographic characteristics. This country has the largest tonnage fleet on the planet, if we discard the ships that sail under the flags and "fake registration" to the ports of Liberia and Panama. It is sea transportation that carries out the lion's share of the country's import-export operations. In the center of the country, transportation by senkansen is widespread - high-speed trains and cars.
Foreign economic relations
Japan is forced to import fuel and ores of all metals, food and animal feed.
However, the amount spent on imports is hundreds of times less than what Nippon receives from its exports. Japan sells automobiles, ships, office and household appliances, machine tools and many other high-tech goods all over the world.
Japan is also introducing high technologies and investing in the industrial sector of neighboring countries - the Asian tigers. Therefore, Japan has a positive trade balance and the image of one of the most economically developed countries in the world.
Japan is an island country, located on an arcuate archipelago, consisting of more than 6.8 thousand islands, which, in a curved chain of about 3800 km, stretch along east coast Asia.
Geographical position of the Japanese islands to the east of the mainland has also determined the figurative name of the country - the Land of the Rising Sun.
Its southern end is at the same latitude as the middle of the Sahara Desert, or southern point Cuba. The northern tip coincides with the latitude of Southern France, Northern Italy and Crimea. Capital of Japan - Tokyo is located at the same latitude as the southern tip of Turkmenistan.
Total area of islands in Japan- about 378 thousand sq. km, which is only 0.3% of the earth's land and approximately corresponds to 2.2% of the territory of Russia or 4% of the area of Canada, China or the United States. Only four islands of all can be called large. This, and - the Japanese do not even call them islands, but call them the main land, the main territory: they account for 98% of the entire country.
The bridges and underwater tunnels built between the four largest islands have made it possible to turn the disparate territorial space of the country into a single land formation. Hokkaido and Honshu islands connects the world's longest transport tunnel Seikan, laid under the Sangar Strait. Three bridges spanning the islands and waters of the Seto Naikai (Inland Sea of Japan) united Honshu and Shikoku islands. Honshu and Kyushu islands connect two tunnels and one bridge.
Over the past few decades territory of japan although a little, but increased due to the creation artificial islands... So, in Tokyo Bay, it was dumped in 10 years Yumenoshima Island, on which a stadium, a museum, greenhouses are built, a park is laid out. Ohishima Island was created specifically to accommodate a metallurgical plant. For construction international airport an artificial island was also poured in the Osaka Bay.
As an island nation, Japan has a coastline of about 29,000 km and the seventh largest in the world.
A 200-mile coastal economic zone, the area of which is 10.5 times larger than the actual territory of the country.
Shores of japan heavily cut. For every square kilometer of Japanese territory, there is twice the coastline of England. A schematic generalization of the coastline, which is visible on an ordinary map, gives only some idea of the complexity and indentedness of the shores of Japan - the abundance of bays and bays, lagoons and seaside terraces, peninsulas, rocky ledges and mountains, sometimes coming close to the coast. The southern islands are bordered by coral reefs.
Mountains are a characteristic feature of the Japanese archipelago, they cover 71% of the land, and only some areas along the coasts or channels of large rivers are plains and lowlands that border mountain systems.
If you look at the archipelago from the ocean depths - from the bottom of the Japan Basin, the islands reach a height of 10-14 thousand meters, rising above sea level by 3 km and higher (16 peaks are over 3000 m, 532 - over 2000 m).
Relief of Japan- these are not yet healed wounds of numerous faults, subsidences, folded bending of layers, volcanic formations. The relief is dominated by low and medium-altitude mountains, elongated almost meridianally, although some areas of the island are characterized by an intricate, labyrinthine arrangement of ridges. Most of Japan's tallest mountain is located on the island. The most the famous mountain range of Japan is called the Japanese Alps and consists of three separate parallel ridges. The peaks of the Japanese Alps rise to an altitude of 3000 m above sea level. This is about twice the height of the Ural Mountains. Mountains with jagged sharp ridges, peaked peaks are separated by deep, up to 2 km, river gorges, glacial formations.
The most famous mountain Of Japan-. It rises on the border of the prefectures Shizuoka and Yamanashi. Mount Fuji height - 3776 m making it the highest peak in Japan. More than half a million people commit annually.
Substantial part mountain peaks Japan - volcanoes, there are about 200 of them, 67 are considered "living" (active or dormant). Among the volcanoes are especially active Asama, Miharayama, Asosan and Sakurajima.
Acting Asosan volcano located in the middle of the island Kyushu... This fire-breathing mountain is widely known not only within the country, but also abroad. By the number of eruptions Asosan occupies one of the first places among the volcanoes in the world (more than 70 eruptions have been recorded), its crater is one of the largest in the world.
It is also diverse, although poorer than vegetable. It is characterized by some features caused primarily by island isolation.
Many migratory birds winter on the islands of the archipelago, which arrive from Siberia, China and other territories adjacent to Japan. Among them are cranes, herons, geese.
The central islands are inhabited by wolves, foxes, deer, hares, squirrels. Honshu Island is the most northern place habitat of such southern species as Japanese macaques, Japanese black bears, gigantic (up to 1.2 m) salamanders.
The southern Ryukyu Islands are characterized by tropical fauna, many monkeys - macaques and gibbons, squirrels and bats.
The most common freshwater fish are carp and crucian carp. The reservoirs are inhabited by turtles, crayfish, crabs. Very varied and The Pacific: numerous species of perch, salmon, herring, cod, as well as tuna, saury, eel and much more, which is simply impossible to list.
Area - 372.8 thousand km2. Population - 127.5 million people
Constitutional monarchy - 47 prefectures. The capital is. Tokyo
... Japan is an island nation... Most of the state's territory is located on the islands. Hokkaido ,. Honshu ,. Kyushu and. Shikoku, which are washed by the seas. The Pacific Ocean. In addition, it owns about 7 thousand more small islands.
V. Japan is geographically closest is. Russia,.
South. Korea,. DPRK ,. China,. Taiwan. Neighboring states are very different in political system and economic potential. South. Korea and. Taiwan is a first-wave emerging industry with high rates of economic development. China and. The DPRK are socialist countries, however. China combines command-and-control and market-based economic models. Japan is an active member
UN,. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ,.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
The country is located near rich mineral resources. China and. Russia, what is for.
Japan is very important important to. Japan's "pantry" of minerals -. Australia, located on a comfortable sea port. Yahah v. Country. Ascendant to descend.
Japan is the center of economic development not only for the region, but also for the world.
Most of the neighboring countries are dynamically developing and have significant resource and economic potential and, over time, naturally played and thus a leading role in the world.
Population
In Japan, a type of population reproduction has formed, the characteristic features of which are low birth rates (9 per 1000 people), low annual population growth (0.2%), and the process of “aging of the nation” (average life expectancy is 81 years). Country first in. Asia has made a demographic transition from the traditional type of population reproduction and approached the state of stabilization of the population.
Small size and migration (migration balance at the beginning of the third millennium is close to 00).
The Japanese make up 99.4% of the population of the state. They belong to the Mongoloid race. The Japanese language forms a separate linguistic family, since it is completely unlike the languages of neighboring peoples. In the north in. Hokkaido is home to a small (about 20 thousand people) aboriginal people.
Japan - the Ainu. The main religions are Shinto and Buddhism-Buddhism.
Japan is a densely populated country (about 337 people per km2). The population density is especially high in the southern coastal regions in. Honshu and in the north at.
Kyushu - more than 500 people per 1 km2. In mountainous regions and in the north of the country, the population density is 60 people per 1 km2.
... Japan is one of the most urbanized countries in the world - 78% of the population lives in cities.
There are ten millionaire cities in the country. Three largest metropolitan areas. Japan merge into largest metropolis... Tokkaido with a population of over 600 km
Employed about 66 million of the economically active population (52%).
Of these, in industry - more than 25%, agriculture - 5% and about 70% in the service sector. For. Japan is characterized by a relatively small number of unemployed (1.3 million people).
Natural conditions and resources
Japan is poor in mineral resources.
Only bituminous coal, insignificant reserves of oil, gas, non-ferrous metal ores (copper, lead, arsenic, bismuth, zinc) are of industrial importance. The chemical industry uses its own sulfur, the construction industry uses dolomite, gypsum, limestone.
The needs of most types of mineral raw materials are met by imports: oil and gas - 99%, coal - 90%, copper - 3/4, iron ore - 99.9%, more than half - lead and zinc.
Rivers in. In Japan, their mountain resources are mainly used for irrigation and for generating electricity. An important source drinking water are numerous small lakes
Forests cover 63% of the territory.
Japan. Coniferous, deciduous and subtropical forests prevail. However, our own forest resources are also not enough to meet the production needs!
Japan - Mountain country... Mountains occupy over 3/5 of the territory. In many places they come very close to the sea. Above the central part of V. Honshu is a volcano. Fujiyama (3776 m). The most plains of the races located in the central part of the island. Honshu (plain.
Economic and geographical characteristics of Japan
Kanto), they are crossed by numerous irrigation canals. The difficult terrain makes it necessary to build numerous underground transport tunnels. The marriage of lowland lands makes it difficult to reclaim land in the bays for the development of large coastal local towns.
A characteristic feature of natural conditions. Japan has a high seismicity.
Sometimes earthquakes cause huge waves - tsunamis
... The climate is subtropical, monsoon, on. Hokkaido - Moderate... In summer there is a southeastern monsoon, characterized by a predominance of hot and humid air. The winter northwest monsoon causes intense snowfall. Precipitation here falls from 1000 to 3000 mm per rerik.
agroclimatic.
Japan is located in a humid zone of temperate (favorable for growing rye, barley, winter wheat, potatoes, legumes) and subtropical (citrus, tobacco, rice) belts
The base for tourism and recreation is nature and distinctive cultural heritage
The name of the country "Japan" in all European languages comes from the distorted reading of the hieroglyphic signs that make up the name of this country - Nihon or in the solemn style - Nippon. The first of these signs means the sun, hence the allegorical meaning: Japan is the country of the rising sun.
Japan: economic and geographical location
This archipelago country is located on 4 large (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu) and 4 thousand small islands. The island arc stretches for 3.5 thousand km from north to south. Japan is located at the junction of the continent of Eurasia and the Pacific Ocean, in the center of the Asia-Pacific region. The country is located in temperate and subtropical climatic zones, in the monsoon climate.
The territory of the islands is located in an active seismic region with frequent earthquakes. The location of the country in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean is the most convenient way to all parts of the world. EGP of Japan, as an island state, is beneficial.
Features of the economic and geographical position of Japan Wikipedia
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EGP Japan
The economic and geographical characteristics of Japan directly depend on the geographical location of this state. Despite the rather a large number of islands (6852), its area is measured by 378 square kilometers. The largest islands in Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. They are located along the eastern coast of Eurasia.
This state has no land neighbors, and the nearest sea ones are Russia, China, North Korea.
Japan's EGP allows it to have a leading position in the world economy. This state is separated from the mainland by the Okhotsk, Japanese and East China seas.
The vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean surround Japan from the east and southeast. These seas and oceans washing the country are very important to her. They are a source of energy, mineral and biological resources. EGP of Japan, which has the longest coastlines in the world, opens up the possibility of participation of this state in trade, construction and recreational purposes.
Communication with all countries is carried out by sea.
Due to the fact that the Japanese islands were formed at the intersection of some volcanic arcs, frequent earthquakes occur in the country. Annually there are about one and a half thousand of them, however, the surface of the earth is affected by their fourth.
The strongest earthquakes are repeated every ten to thirty years. Tsunamis occur with the same frequency in this country - the destructive force of waves reaching a height of up to ten meters. Due to the movements of the earth's crust, the islands are subject to intense volcanic activity. This is another feature of Japan's EGP. There are about two hundred volcanoes here, of which about forty are active.
The natural resource potential of this country is extremely poor.
Its relief, which is seventy-nine percent mountainous, is not suitable for the development of land transport systems. It is also unsuitable for construction. Plains account for twenty one percent. The soils are diverse - red soils, yellow soils, brown forest soils, however, all of them are poor and unproductive.
The state has a meager amount of minerals. It possesses only non-industrial reserves of copper, coal, iron ore, natural gas. Therefore, the country is forced to import everything it needs, in particular, ninety-nine percent of all consumed ores, combustible minerals - ninety-six percent and the forest it uses, seventy percent.
Based on the acquisition of the most advanced technologies and equipment, the industry is actively developing, where the professionalism of the workforce plays an important role.
Currently, the industrial complex of this country is its pride. A powerful energy industry is developing on imported gas and oil.
Metallurgy is also one of the main industries. Our own metallurgical base allows the active development of transport, electrical, machine-tool and instrument-making machine building. Japan ranks first in the production of ships.
"THE BIGGEST BANK OF ABSTRACTS"
One of the leading places belongs to the export of cars, trucks, motorcycles. The production of office equipment, optical equipment, and industrial robots plays a significant role in the world economy.
The traditional development of light industry does not stop, represented by the manufacture of silk, cotton, woolen and synthetic fabrics.
Agriculture of Japan plays minor role v general characteristics of this country.
Therefore, it has to import these products. The population is 100% self-sufficient only in rice, and fruits, vegetables, teas are supplied by the nearest mainland. The livestock industry is represented by fish farming and fishing, in terms of consumption and volumes of which Japan has no competitors in the world economy.
If we take into account the amounts spent on imports, then they are several hundred times less than the amounts that the state receives from the export of manufactured goods.
Japan sells its products to the whole world, ranging from ships and cars, office and household appliances, machine tools, and ending with light industry products. Therefore, Japan's EGP allows it to maintain a leading position in the world market and maintain the image of the most economically developed country.
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The political and geographical position of Japan, its change over time. Centuries and rulers changed, interrupted and rebuilt
Trade relations with other countries of the world have intensified.
From the end of the 12th to 1867, the feudal state that existed on the islands of Japan was ruled by the shoguns. Feudal rulers banned almost all contact with foreigners, fearing the spread and spread of Christianity. The "closure" of Japan prevented the colonization of the country. but long periods isolation led to the fact that up to XX. For centuries, it has been hidden from the eyes of Europeans. Severe isolation has greatly affected the economic development of the country.
At a time when the whole of Europe was moving with scientific and technological advances, Japan was still at the agrarian stage of development. In the twentieth century, Japan was a participant in three major wars (Russian-Japanese, 1st and 2nd world). In World War II, he was an ally of Nazi Germany and Italy. In 1945, in accordance with the secret Lattese agreements of the victorious countries, all the Kurils went to the Soviet Union as a trophy of war.
Since the Second World War, Japan has not had a peace treaty with Russia and calls for Russia for the Kuril Islands: Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai. Almost 50 years later, the Kuril Islands belonged to the USSR and Russia, the socio-economic situation of the islands remains extremely difficult, the rest remain uninhabited.
Based on the principles of justice, we must recognize that Japan has a moral and legal right to claim at least the southern Kuril Islands.
It is necessary to fully support the emerging desire to approach, resolve the territorial issue and conclude peace with Japan and end the Second World War.
General characteristics of Japan
Political and geographical location
Japan - Nippon (Nihon). It is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, off the east coast of Asia on a group of islands, the main of which are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku. Territory: 377 815 sq. Km. (including the Ryukyu archipelago with the largest island - Okinawa).
Population - 126 959 000. Capital - Tokyo (12 976 000 - with suburbs). Other big cities- Yokohama (3,233,000), Osaka (2,506,000). Highest point- Fujiyama volcano (3 776 m). Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures (prefecture, todofuken), including Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture (since 1972) and two city prefectures - Kyoto and Osaka.
Prefectures are divided into counties. Hokkaido constitutes a special administrative region, subdivided into 14 counties. The state language is Japanese. The main religions are Shinto, Buddhism.
The currency is the yen. The main export items are machinery, automobiles, electronic equipment, steel, chemicals, textiles. The form of government is a constitutional monarchy. Diplomatic relations with the USSR: established on February 26, 1925, interrupted on August 9.
Economic and geographical location
Japan is a highly developed country. With 2.5% of the world's population and 0.3% of the area, by now, in terms of its economic potential, it has firmly entrenched itself in second place after the United States in the capitalist world.
The country's GNP exceeds 11% of the world GNP; in terms of GNP per capita, Japan has surpassed the United States. Japan accounts for about 12% of world industrial production. The country ranks first in the production of ships, cars, tractors, metalworking equipment, household electronics, robots. The adaptation of the Japanese economy to the "expensive yen" is almost complete.
Basically, a transition has been made to a new model of the country's economic development, removing the emphasis on export orientation and placing at the forefront the task of, first of all, domestic consumption. The main export commodities are machinery and equipment, electronics, metals and metal products, chemical products. Import goods: industrial raw materials and semi-finished products, fuel and foodstuffs.
State system and structure of Japan
Japan is a constitutional monarchy.
The constitution adopted by the parliament on Aug. 24 is in force. 1946 and entered into force on May 3, 1947, with subsequent amendments.
The head of state is the emperor. The imperial throne is inherited by members of the imperial family through the male line. According to the constitution, the emperor does not have sovereign power. All actions related to state affairs, the emperor must carry out on the advice and with the approval of the cabinet, which is responsible for them.
The highest legislative body of the state is the parliament, which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors.
The House of Representatives consists of 512 deputies, elected for a term of 4 years. Under the New Constituencies Act of November 21, 1994, during elections to the House of Representatives, the key house of parliament, the medium-sized multi-member constituency system (as it was from 1945 to November 1994) was replaced by 300 single-member and 11 constituencies with proportional representation, by which 200 candidates from parties are elected.
The House of Councilors consists of 252 members, elected for a term of 6 years. 152 members of the chamber are elected from 47 prefectures, and 100 - from the whole country through the system of proportional representation.
The composition of the House of Councilors is renewed by half every 3 years. Both chambers are elected through direct general elections by secret ballot. A bill is considered passed if it is approved by both houses of parliament by a simple majority of votes.
In the event of disagreement between the chambers, the final word remains with the House of Representatives.
Executive power is exercised by the government, headed by the prime minister, who is elected by parliament from among its members. The prime minister appoints the ministers, with a majority of the ministers to be elected from among the members of parliament.
The Cabinet of Ministers is responsible to parliament.
The head of state is the Emperor of Japan Akihito. He ascended the throne on January 7. 1989 Coronation took place on November 12, 1990.
In Japan, it is customary to call the House of Representatives the lower house, and the House of Councilors - the upper house in accordance with the procedure for passing bills in parliament.
Population of Japan
General characteristics.
In total, 127 433 494 people live in Japan in 2007, with a density of 337 people / km².
In terms of population, Japan ranks 10th in the world. The population of Japan is extremely homogeneous in racial, ethnic, linguistic and religious terms. However, there are about 600,000 Koreans in the country, although many were born and raised on the islands, speak Japanese, and sometimes bear Japanese names.
Although the Japanese perceive themselves as a "pure" race and do not seek to assimilate representatives of other peoples, their nation has developed from different streams of immigrants.
It is considered that the oldest people who inhabited the islands were the Ainu. In the 6-7 centuries. the people who inhabited the Japanese islands adopted some elements of the Chinese and Korean cultures.
Although Japan is a relatively small country, there are three main dialect groups in Japanese - northeastern, southwestern, and central - and many dialects. The Ryukyus dialect stands apart. The literary standard language is based on the dialect of one of the central dialects - the city of Tokyo and the Kanto plain. Thanks to television, the Tokyo dialect is widespread.
The Japanese language, like Chinese, is built on a hieroglyphic basis; the writing system was borrowed in the 5-6th century. v. in China. In the 10th century, its own syllabary alphabet was created - kanna, consisting of two phonetic varieties - hiragana and katakana. Words for which there are no Chinese characters are also expressed in writing using kanna. The language is constantly growing large quantity foreign words, mainly English.
Accommodation of the population.
Over the years, there has been an outflow of the rural population to the cities. Tokyo region (about 25 million people) in the east and Osaka (10.5 million inhabitants) in the west, like two poles of a giant magnet, attract the population from the periphery and include such large cities as Tokyo (7968 thousand people, 1995) , Osaka (2602), the main port of the country Yokohama (3307), an important city of central Japan Nagoya (2152), Kobe port (1424), ancient capital and the cultural center of Kyoto (1464).
In other parts of Japan, cities of regional significance have grown: in the north - Sendai (971) and Niigata (495), on the coast of the Inland Sea of Japan - Hiroshima (1109) and Okayama (616), on about. Kyushu - Fukuoka (1285), Kitakyushu (1020), Kagoshima (546) and Kumamoto (650).
Tokyo, together with adjoining prefectures, is home to more than a quarter of the country's total population.
About half of companies, institutions and the media have their headquarters in the capital. About 85% of foreign financial organizations operating in Japan are also located there.
Tokyo's skyrocketing population has led to congestion public transport, contributed to the construction of high-rise buildings and a marked increase in land prices, which peaked in the early 1990s.
One of the plans for the future development of Japan envisages the use of the concept of "technopolis", which implies the creation of industries based on the use of advanced technologies in centers with universities with modern research laboratories and highly qualified personnel.
Another proposal is to relocate some government agencies to other cities. A more radical and costly idea is to move the capital to Sendai or Nagoya.
Natural conditions and resources
The geological basis of the archipelago is underwater mountain ranges.
About 80% of the territory is occupied by mountains and hills with a highly dissected relief of an average height of 1600 - 1700 m. There are about 200 volcanoes, 90 active, including highest peak- Fudei volcano (3 776 m.) Frequent earthquakes and tsunamis also have a significant impact on the economy of Japan.
The country is poor in minerals, but coal, lead and zinc ores, oil, sulfur and limestone are mined.
The resources of its own deposits are small, so Japan is the largest importer of raw materials.
Despite the small area, the length of the country in the meridional direction led to the existence on its territory unique complex Natural conditions: the island of Hokkaido and northern Honshu are located in a zone of temperate maritime climate, the rest of Honshu, the islands of Shikoku and Yushu are in the humid subtropical, and the island of Ryukyu is in a tropical climate. Japan is in the active monsoon zone.
The average annual rainfall ranges from 2 to 4 thousand mm.
Soils in Japan are mainly slightly podzolic and peaty, as well as brown forest and red soil. About 2/3 of the territory, mainly mountainous regions, covered with forests (more than half of the forests are artificial plantations).
Coniferous forests predominate in northern Hokkaido, mixed forests in central Honshu and southern Hokkaido, and subtropical monsoon forests in the south.
There are many rivers in Japan, full-flowing, fast and rapids, unsuitable for navigation, but providing a source for hydropower and irrigation.
The abundance of rivers, lakes and groundwater has a beneficial effect on the development of industry and agriculture.
In the post-war period Japanese islands environmental problems have aggravated.
The adoption and implementation of a number of laws on environmental protection reduces the level of environmental pollution.
Industry specialization
Mining industry.
Japan's mineral resources are scarce. There are only quite significant reserves of limestone, native sulfur and coal. Large coal mines are located in Hokkaido and northern Kyushu. The country is producing small amounts of oil, natural gas, copper and gray pyrites, iron ore, magnetite sands, chromium, manganese, polymetallic, mercury ores, pyrite, gold and other minerals.
However, this is not enough for the development of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, energy, chemical and other industries that operate mainly on imported raw materials.
Manufacturing industry.
Japan is the world's largest manufacturer sea vessels(52% of the world's volume), TVs (over 60%), pianos, cars (about 30%), aluminum, copper, cement, caustic soda, sulfuric acid, synthetic rubber, tires and bicycles.
Japan is the world leader in the production of various electrical and mechanical engineering products, optical instruments, computers.
A high degree of territorial concentration of the manufacturing industry is characteristic. The districts of Tokyo - Yokohama, Osaka - Kobe and Nagoya, which account for more than half of the income of the manufacturing industries, stand out. The city of Kitakyushu in the north of Fr.
Kyushu. The most industrially backward ones are Hokkaido, northern Honshu and southern Kyushu, where ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, coke chemistry, oil refining, mechanical engineering, electronic instrumentation, military, glass-ceramic, cement, food, textile, and printing industries are developed.
Building.
The rapid growth of the Japanese economy required the development of the construction complex.
Until the early 1960s, primarily the needs of entrepreneurs were met and relatively little attention was paid to measures to reduce the shortage of housing, roads, water supply and sanitation systems. In 1995, about 40% of the value of orders in construction accounted for objects public use and about 15% for housing construction.
Energy.
Despite the fact that Japan is poor in energy resources, in terms of electricity production in 1995 (950 billion kWh), it ranked third in the world. In the mid-1990s, energy consumption in Japan was estimated at 3855 kWh per capita. The structure of the energy complex was dominated by oil (56%), with 99.7% imported, coal accounted for 17%, natural gas 11, nuclear energy 12 and hydro resources 3%.
About a third of electricity (275 billion kWh in 1995-1996) is produced at nuclear power plants. The housing stock in Japan is fully electrified, but energy costs are not as significant as in the United States, due to the limited use of district heating.
After the jump in oil prices in 1973-1974, and then in 1979-1980, the government took measures to reduce the country's dependence on this fuel source.
They consist in the wider use of imported coal and liquefied natural gas, nuclear energy and unconventional sources - solar and wind energy, although the latter account for only 1.1% of total energy consumption.
Agriculture specialization
Although the national economy is primarily based on industry, agriculture takes up important place providing the country with most of the food consumed.
Mainly due to limited land resources and post-war agrarian reform, smallholders dominate the countryside. The average farm size is less than 1.1 ha. The importance of agricultural production as a potential place of work declined sharply after the Second World War.
More than 85% of the cultivated land is allotted for food crops.
Rice, which forms the basis of the Japanese diet, occupies about 55% of all cultivated areas. Rice is cultivated throughout Japan, but its crops are limited in Hokkaido, where the climate is not warm enough. Gardening continues to strengthen its already traditionally strong position. The most important of the harvested fruits - citrus fruits - gravitate towards the subtropical regions located south of Tokyo.
Apple trees, one of the main fruit crops, are grown mainly in the highlands, as well as in northern Honshu and Hokkaido. Mulberry, used to breed silkworms, and tea are also found in subtropical regions. Vegetables are grown in the vicinity of large cities.
Livestock raising has not fully overcome its lag, although meat and dairy products occupy an increasingly important place in the diet of the population. Milk yield increased from 1.9 mln.
up to 8.4 million. Dairy cattle are raised mainly in Hokkaido, and beef cattle - in Honshu. The production of livestock products lags behind the demand, which has to be met mainly through growing imports.
Many peasant families are engaged in forestry, especially since the area of agricultural land is five times less area the vast forests preserved in Japan.
About a third of them are owned by the state. The vigorous clearing of natural woody vegetation during World War II was followed by extensive reforestation. Nevertheless, the country is forced to import about 50% of the wood consumed (primarily from Canada).
Japan is a major fishing power.
In 1995, fishery production amounted to 6 million tons. deep waters... In the coastal zone, fishing is carried out from small boats. In the water area northern islands salmon, cod and herring are harvested, and tuna, mackerel and sardines off the coast of the southern islands.
Transnational corporation and firms
In terms of its export volume, Japan is the third country in the world after the USA and Germany.
In terms of imports, Japan moved up from third to fifth in 1998, leaving England and France behind. The country's foreign trade balance in the mid-1960s was negative, but in subsequent years it had a generally positive balance. Since 1981, the annual excess of exports over imports has consistently exceeded $ 10 billion, and in 1986 it reached an unprecedented amount of $ 82.7 billion.
again soared to a record height of $ 120.9 billion. However, the sharp fluctuations in the balance did not stop there. 1996 reduced the figure of the positive balance by half - to 61.7 billion.
dollars. This was the result of the fall in Japanese exports caused by the economic depression in the country. Then the situation began to improve, and the excess of exports over imports increased to 82.2 billion.
dollars in 1997 and 107.5 billion in 1998
In 1998, Japan's exports amounted to $ 388 billion (FOB) and imports - $ 280.5 billion (CIF). Compared to 1997, this meant a decrease in exports by 7.8% and imports by 17.2%. In 1997, Japan accounted for 7.6% of exports and 6% of imports of countries belonging to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Low level of industrial imports. Poverty in Japan natural resources traditionally forms the composition of its imports mainly due to raw materials and energy resources.
Further, these materials are sent to the production of industrial products for export. As a consequence, the share of industrial products in Japan's imports remains low, which attracts much criticism overseas. This share was 31.0% in 1985 and peaked at 62.1% in 1998.
Introduction
Chapter 1 Economic and Geographical Position of Japan
Chapter 2 Natural Conditions and Resources of Japan
Chapter 3 Population
3.1. Demographic problem of modern Japan
3.2. Religion of Japan
3.3. National characteristics
Chapter 4 Characteristics of the country's economy
4.1. Industry specialization
4.2. Agriculture
Chapter 5 Foreign economic relations
5.1. General overview of operations
5.2. Participation of the country in international commodity exchange
5.3. Participation of the country in integration processes and international organizations
5.4. The place of the country in the international division of labor
Conclusion
List of used literature
Introduction
In recent years, Japan has invariably attracted the attention of researchers and observers from the rest of the world, trying to figure out the "riddles" of the very extraordinary development of the Land of the Rising Sun. Indeed, how did Japan, which suffered a brutal defeat in a war that suffered enormous material and moral damage, not only rise from ruins and devastation, but also turn into a first-class economic power, leading in many areas of industry and trade, practically during the life of one generation, science and technology.
The unprecedented rate of industrial development that the Japanese economy achieved annually for three decades is still being studied by economists around the world, is cited as an example and shows the way for developing countries. The industrial development and economic growth of Japan is interesting as a unique phenomenon of our time, but the results achieved by Japan are especially impressive if we take into account the obvious unsuitability of the geographical and climatic conditions in which this country had to develop.
Japan's geopolitical position cannot be classified as conducive to the development of “free” market competition. First of all, this is a high population density concentrated on very narrow strips of land suitable for economic use with an extremely insignificant endowment with natural resources, especially mineral raw materials. Own energy sources are almost completely absent (excluding hydropower). The general mildness of the country's climatic conditions is opposed by its constant susceptibility to natural disasters. One could even say that Japan lies in the knot of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and powerful typhoons. The country's agriculture is in need of constant and large-scale land reclamation work. Industrial, housing and transport construction is becoming more expensive due to the need for anti-seismic measures designed to withstand the most powerful blows of the underground element. Japan, later than all industrialized countries, embarked on the path of development and had to catch up with the developed capitalist countries for a long time, moreover, in the first Meiji period under the conditions of unequal trade agreements imposed on it by force. In the initial period of its industrial development, Japan was, as it were, on the outskirts of the world economy, and only in recent decades has the center of the world economy shifted from the Mediterranean-Atlantic zone to the Pacific region. After the Second World War, the country, which had survived the terrible moral shock of the atomic bombings, lay in ruins and was occupied by a foreign army. The loss of colonies, especially Manchuria and Korea, where a significant part of Japan's production potential was concentrated and where there were significant mineral resources, including energy resources (coal), can be compared in terms of economic consequences with the consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union for today's Russia.
The unyielding spirit of the Japanese people, who managed to build their own special economic organization based on old and even ancient traditions, helped Japan go through all these trials. It can be characterized as a specifically Japanese version of state capitalism or as a paternalistic state-corporate capitalism. This system provided the necessary effect, which made it possible not only to overcome unfavorable geopolitical factors and turn them into advantages, but also to bring the country into the ranks of the largest economic powers in the world.
Chapter 1 Economic and Geographical Position
Japan is an island nation in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located off the coast of East Asia. Japan is a relatively small country in terms of area. The total area of Japan is 377.819 sq. km., which is one twenty-fifth of the territory of the United States, one-twentieth of the area of Australia and only 0.3% of the land surface.
Japan is separated from the mainland by the East China, Japan and Okhotsk seas. From the east and southeast, the country is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The Inland Sea of Japan is located between the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. The seas and ocean washing Japan are of great importance for the country as a source of biological, mineral and energy resources. Japan's connection with other countries of the world is carried out by sea. The position of Japan at the junction of the continent of Eurasia and the Pacific Ocean, located in the center of the Asia-Pacific region, opens up very great opportunities for the country's participation in the international division of labor.
Japan is a mountainous country (75% of the territory). To expand the living space, the water area adjacent to land is used: residential and industrial zones are located on artificial peninsulas and islands created by filling shallow waters. The bulk of the country's population lives on the coastal plains (mainly along the Pacific coast of the islands). Japan is an island nation in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located off the coast of East Asia.
Major cities: Tokyo-capital, Kyoto, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka, Yokohama
The country occupies four large islands - Honshu (three-fifths of the country's area), Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu - and many small islands that stretch for about 3,500 km from Hokkaido in the northeast to the Ryukyu Islands in the southwest. Japan is separated from the southeastern coast of Russia and the eastern coast of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea by the Sea of Japan, and from China by the East China Sea. The southwestern tip of Japan and southeastern Korea are separated by the Korea Strait with a minimum width of about 180 km. To the north of Japan is located about. Sakhalin, and to the north-east - the Kuril ridge. Japan is a relatively small country in terms of area. The total area of Japan is 377.819 sq. km., which is one twenty-fifth of the territory of the United States, one-twentieth of the area of Australia and only 0.3% of the land surface.
The Japanese islands were formed at the intersection of several island volcanic arcs. Due to this, earthquakes often occur: about 1500 are recorded a year, but only a quarter of them are felt on the surface. The strongest are repeated every 10-30 years. Tsunamis also often occur - huge waves of destructive force up to 10m high.
Intense volcanic activity on the Japanese islands is associated with the movements of the earth's crust. In total, there are about 200 volcanoes in Japan, of which about 40 are active. Some of the highest mountains in Japan are volcanoes, the highest of which is Mount Fuji (3776 m). The last time the volcano erupted was in 1707. Hot springs are found near both active and extinct volcanoes.
The rivers of Japan are numerous, have short, very steep longitudinal profiles and are unnavigable, but they are used for timber rafting. The largest rivers are quite full-flowing, the water in them is usually clean and transparent. Many of them have hydroelectric power plants. River water is used for irrigation, so some of the southern islands are now in short supply.
Due to the significant extent of Japan from north to south (from 45 ° to 22 ° N), there are large climatic differences within its territory. In general, the climate of Japan is humid, maritime. Total annual precipitation ranges from just under 1000 mm in eastern Hokkaido to 3800 mm on some ranges of central Honshu. Snowfalls occur throughout Japan, but in the south it takes only a few days, and in the northwest of the country it lasts 95 days. During this time, a snow cover with a thickness of up to 4.5 m is formed. The lowlands of Kyushu, Shikoku, the southern and eastern coasts of Honshu up to the Kanto plain are characterized by a subtropical climate, while the mountains are cooler. The lowlands of northern Honshu and Hokkaido are characterized by more contrasting climatic conditions with cold winters and short summers, and in the mountains of these regions the climate is similar to the subarctic. In other parts of the country, different climatic variations can be traced, depending on the features of the relief, especially the exposure of the slopes.
Chapter 2 Natural Conditions and Resources of Japan
Climate
Japan's climate varies greatly with latitude and varies from cool and temperate in Hokkaido to subtropical in Okinawa. Most of the country is located in an area of warm, rainy, temperate climates; in the mountains it is colder all year round. There are big differences in the climate of the coast. There is a lot of rainfall in these regions in June and July. In September, there are heavy rains and typhoons on the Pacific coast, but in winter there is sunny weather, on the coast of the Sea of Japan in winter there are heavy rains and a lot of snow falls.
The climate in Japan is generally quite favorable in terms of agriculture and human habitation. The climatic conditions of different regions differ markedly from each other.
The most important factor shaping the climate is monsoons, accompanied by typhoons and showers in summer and snowfalls in winter. The warm ocean current of the Kuroshio has a softening effect. Due to the climatic conditions in the southern subtropical and tropical regions, two crops can be harvested per year.
In winter, Japan is influenced by the eastern monsoons. In summer, the effects of the weaker northwest monsoons are manifested. Summer storms are usually not very severe and only affect northern Japan, but typhoons sweep over the Pacific coast of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu in both summer and autumn. During rainy season from mid-June to mid-July, most of the annual rainfall often falls in many areas of southern Japan, while winter rains and snowfalls are typical for Honshu and Hokkaido. The climate of the southern mountainous regions is comparable to that of the northern plains. The growing season lasts 250 days on the plains of southern Kyushu, 215 on the Kanto plain and in the Kyushu mountains, 175 on the shores of Honshu, 155 in the Japanese Alps and on the western coast of Hokkaido, and 125 on the northern coast of Hokkaido.
Thus, high seismicity and volcanism have a significant impact on the economic development of the territory. Frequent earthquakes, typhoons and tsunamis lead to serious destruction and destabilize the overall economic activity of the country. Japan's mineral reserves are extremely limited, which makes it dependent on imports and relations with exporting countries.
Territory- 377.8 thousand km 2
Population- 125.2 million people (1995).
Capital- Tokyo.
Geographical location, general information
Japan- an archipelago country, located on four large and almost four thousand small islands, stretching for 3.5 thousand km from northeast to southwest along the eastern coast of Asia. The largest islands are Honshu, Hokaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The shores of the archipelago are heavily indented and form many bays and coves. The seas and ocean washing Japan are of exceptional importance for the country as a source of biological, mineral and energy resources.
The economic and geographical position of Japan is determined primarily by the fact that it is located in the center of the Asia-Pacific region, which contributes to the country's active participation in the international geographical division of labor.
For a long period, Japan was isolated from other countries. After the unfinished bourgeois revolution of 1867-1868. she embarked on the path of rapid capitalist development. At the turn of the XIX - XX centuries. became one of the imperialist states.
Japan is a country with a constitutional monarchy. The highest body of state power and the only legislative body is parliament.
Natural conditions and resources of Japan
The geological basis of the archipelago is underwater mountain ranges. About 80% of the territory is occupied by mountains and hills with a highly dissected relief of an average height of 1600 - 1700 m. There are about 200 volcanoes, 90 are active, including the highest peak - Mount Fuji (3776 m). Frequent earthquakes and tsunami.
The country is poor in minerals, but coal, lead and zinc ores, oil, sulfur and limestone are mined. The resources of its own deposits are small, so Japan is the largest importer of raw materials.
Despite the small area, the length of the country determined the existence of a unique complex of natural conditions on its territory: the island of Hokkaido and northern Honshu are located in a zone of temperate maritime climate, the rest of Honshu, the islands of Shikoku and Yushu are in a humid subtropical, and Ryukyu Island is in a tropical climate. Japan is in the active monsoon zone. The average annual rainfall ranges from 2 to 4 thousand mm.
About 2/3 of the territory is mainly mountainous areas covered with forests (more than half of the forests are artificial plantations). Coniferous forests dominate in northern Hokaido, mixed forests in central Honshu and southern Hokkaido, and subtropical forests in the south.
There are many rivers in Japan, full-flowing, fast, of little use for navigation, but providing a source for hydropower and irrigation.
The abundance of rivers, lakes and groundwater has a beneficial effect on the development of industry and agriculture.
In the post-war period, environmental problems worsened on the Japanese islands. The adoption and implementation of a number of environmental laws reduces the country's pollution level.
Population of Japan
Japan is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of population. Japan became the first Asian country to move from the second to the first type of population reproduction. Now the birth rate is 12%, the death rate is 8%. Life expectancy in the country is the highest in the world (76 years for men and 82 years for women).
The population is nationally homogeneous, about 99% are Japanese. Other ethnic groups include Koreans and Chinese. The most common religions are Shinto and Buddhism. The population is unevenly distributed over the area. The average density is 330 people per m2, but the coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean are among the most densely populated in the world.
About 80% of residents live in cities. 11 cities are millionaires.
Economy of Japan
The growth rates of the Japanese economy were among the highest in the second half of the 20th century. The country has largely undergone a qualitative restructuring of the economy. Japan is at a post-industrial stage of development, which is characterized by a highly developed industry, but the leading sphere is the non-manufacturing sector (services, finance).
Although Japan is poor in natural resources and imports raw materials for most industries, it ranks 1-2 in the world in terms of the output of many industries. Industry is mainly concentrated within the Pacific industrial belt.
Power engineering mainly uses imported raw materials. In the structure of the raw material base, oil is in the lead, the share of natural gas, hydropower and nuclear energy is growing, and the share of coal is decreasing.
In the electric power industry, 60% of the capacity comes from thermal power plants and 28% from nuclear power plants.
Hydroelectric power plants are located in cascades on mountain rivers. In terms of hydropower generation, Japan ranks 5th in the world. In resource-poor Japan, alternative energy sources are being actively developed.
Ferrous metallurgy. In terms of steel production, the country ranks first in the world. The share of Japan in the world market of ferrous metallurgy is 23%.
Largest centers, which now operate almost entirely on imported raw materials and fuels, are located near Osaka, Tokyo, in Fujiyama.
Non-ferrous metallurgy. Due to the harmful effect on the environment, primary smelting of non-ferrous metals is reduced, but factories are located in all large industrial centers.
Mechanical engineering. Provides 40% of industrial production. The main sub-sectors among the many developed in Japan are electronics and electrical engineering, the radio industry and transport engineering.
Japan firmly occupies the 1st place in the world in shipbuilding, specializing in the construction of large-capacity tankers and bulk carriers. The main centers of shipbuilding and ship repair are located in the largest ports (Yokogana, Nagosaki, Kobe).
In terms of car production (13 million units per year), Japan also ranks first in the world. The main centers are Toyota, Yokohama, Hiroshima.
The main enterprises of general mechanical engineering are located within the Pacific industrial belt - complex machine tool building and industrial robots in the Tokyo region, metal-intensive equipment in Osaka, machine tool building in the Nagai region.
The country's share in the world output of the radio-electronic and electrical engineering industry is exceptionally large.
By the level of development chemical industry in Japan is one of the first places in the world.
Pulp and paper, light and food industries are also developed in Japan.
Agriculture Japan remains an important industry, contributing about 2% of GNP; the industry employs 6.5% of the population. Agricultural production is focused on food production (the country provides 70% of its own needs in it).
13% of the territory is cultivated, in the structure of crop production (it gives 70% of agricultural production) the cultivation of rice and vegetables plays a leading role, horticulture is developed. Livestock raising is intensively developing (cattle breeding, pig breeding, poultry farming).
Due to the exceptional location, there is an abundance of fish and seafood in the diet of the Japanese, the country fishes in all regions of the World Ocean, has more than three thousand fishing ports and has the largest fishing fleet (over 400 thousand vessels).
Japan transport
All types of transport are developed in Japan, with the exception of river and pipeline transport. In terms of the volume of cargo transportation, the first place belongs to road transport(60%), second place - marine. Role railway transport is shrinking, while air travel is growing. Due to very active foreign economic relations, Japan has the largest merchant fleet in the world.
The territorial structure of the economy is characterized by a combination of two different parts: the Pacific belt, which is the socio-economic core of the country, because here are the main industrial areas, ports, transport routes and developed agriculture, and the peripheral zone, which includes areas where the most developed timber harvesting, animal husbandry, mining, hydropower and tourism. Despite the implementation of the regional policy, the smoothing of territorial disparities is proceeding rather slowly.
External economic relations of Japan
Japan actively participates in the MGRT, foreign trade takes the leading place, capital export, production, scientific and technical and other ties are also developed.
The share of Japan in world imports is about 1/10. Mainly raw materials and fuel are imported.
The country's share in world exports is also more than 1/10. Manufactured goods account for 98% of exports.
