The country’s main language is Japanese.
Shinto and Buddhism are the
major religions. Most Japanese live in
cities, mainly on Honshu.
Economy
Most Japanese work in services, including
banking, health care, and communications.
Manufacturing and
international trade are also strong parts
of the economy. Japan is a leading maker
of ships, automobiles, watches, and
electronics—especially cellular phones,
television sets, computers, cameras, photocopiers,
and robots. Japan also produces
steel, chemicals, plastics, cement,
fabrics, and paper.
Farming and fishing are small parts of
the economy. Nevertheless, Japan produces
large amounts of food. Its leading
crops include rice, potatoes, sugar beets,
fruits, vegetables, and tea. Japan also
catches more fish than most other countries
do.
History
People lived in Japan at least 10,000
years ago. According to legend, the
emperor Jimmu founded the Japanese
state in 660 BC. Historical records, however,
show that Japan was not united as
one state until the late AD 300s or early
400s.
For many centuries the Japanese borrowed
heavily from Chinese culture.
The Japanese adopted Chinese characters
to write the Japanese language. They
also used some Chinese ideas about government.
Japan’s culture became more
Japanese after the 800s.
Japanese Kabuki plays are colorful combinations
of singing, dancing, mime, and
drama.
Facts About
JAPAN
Population
(2008 estimate)
127,674,000
Area
145,903 square
miles (377,887
square
kilometers)
Capital
Tokyo
Form of
government
Constitutional
monarchy
Major cities
Tokyo, Yokohama,
Osaka,
Nagoya,
Sapporo
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Japan 13
Military Government
During the 1100s a class of warriors
called samurai rose to power. The samurai
often managed the estates of wealthy
people, and sometimes they held land
themselves. The samurai developed
advanced military skills.
In 1185 a samurai named Minamoto
Yoritomo took control of Japan. In 1192
he took the title of shogun. His military
government was called a shogunate.
Japan had an emperor, but he held less
power than the shogun.
From the 1300s to the 1500s powerful
families fought each other for control of
Japan. The country was divided into
private estates ruled by the landowners.
The shogun and the emperor became
less powerful.
Meanwhile Japan was developing trade
contacts with the outside world. Trade
missions to China began in 1404. In
1543 Portuguese traders arrived in
Japan. Spanish, English, and Dutch
traders followed.
The division and disorder in Japan
ended in the late 1500s. Powerful leaders
defeated the local landowners and
united the country.
During the 1600s and 1700s strong
shoguns of the Tokugawa family ruled
Japan. Japan enjoyed peace, stability,
and a growing economy. At the same
time, the shoguns began to fear conquest
by foreign powers. They banned
Christianity (a foreign religion), stopped
foreign travel, and cut back on foreign
trade.
By the mid-1800s the Tokugawa shogunate
was unable to keep European
and U.S. traders away. The shogun’s
support among the Japanese people collapsed.
In 1868 the shogun was forced
to step down.
about 400 1192 1635 1868 1941 1945 2001
Japan becomes
a unified
kingdom.
The samurai set
up a military
government, or
shogunate.
Japan bans its
people from
traveling
overseas.
The emperor
Meiji takes
power and
modernizes
Japan.
The Japanese
attack Pearl
Harbor,
Hawaii.
The United
States drops
atomic bombs
on Japan.
Junichiro
Koizumi
becomes
Japan’s 87th
prime minister.
T I M E L I N E
14 Japan BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
The Japanese Empire
Japan set up a new government under an
emperor who took the name Meiji,
meaning “enlightened government.” The
transfer of power from the shogunate to
the Meiji emperor was the start of
Japan’s modern era.
Japan soon started to build an empire. It
defeated China and Russia in war. It
made Korea into a Japanese colony in
1910. During WorldWar I (1914–18),
Japan fought on the side of the Allies
(mainly Great Britain, France, and Russia).
Japan seized additional territory in
East Asia during the war.
WorldWar II
In 1931 Japan seized the region called
Manchuria from China. Japan moved
troops into China in 1937 and into
Southeast Asia in 1940. The Japanese
also formed an alliance with Germany
and Italy. The three countries were
known as the Axis powers. They fought
against the Allies duringWorldWar II
(1939–45).
In 1941 Japan attacked U.S. forces at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack pulled
the United States into the war. In 1945
the United States dropped atomic
bombs on the Japanese cities of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs
destroyed large parts of the cities and
killed more than 100,000 people. The
Japanese then surrendered.
Postwar Japan
After the war Japan had to give up all
the territory it had acquired since 1895.
It also broke up its military. In addition,
U.S. forces occupied Japan until 1952.
A new constitution in 1947 took power
away from the emperor and made Japan
more democratic.
Japan rebuilt its ruined economy with
the help of new technology. By 1990
Japan had one of the world’s largest
economies. Although economic growth
slowed in the 1990s, Japan remained
