 Japan's complex topography provides the land with
beautiful and at times
dramatic scenery--snow-fed mountain lakes, rocky gorges and turbulent
rivers, rugged peaks, and graceful waterfalls. They are a constant
source of inspiration and pleasure to Japanese and foreign visitors
alike. While retaining its time-honored culture,
Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early
20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan
recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world and a
staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol
of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful
politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy
experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of
unprecedented growth.
Since 1945 Japan has enjoyed a remarkable degree of domestic
political stability. Except for a brief period of socialist government
in 1947 and 1948, the conservatives have maintained a constant majority
in the Diet.
After the mid-1960s, Japan began to face several new types of problems
both internally and externally. With the immediate needs of life
satisfied, the people began to seek other goals, especially improvements
in the quality of life. Students expressed discontent in their schools
and universities. Various citizen's groups called for the rectification
of social inequalities. And the problem of pollution brought on by the
country's all-out pursuit of economic development increasingly attracted
public attention.
The shift to a low growth economy in the 1970s, together with an
increasingly severe international economic environment, greatly
influenced the lives of the Japanese people, bringing about changes in
their thinking
 and life styles. Values have become more diversified, and
many people now place more importance on self-expression and the pursuit
of more personalized goals. The reversion of Okinawa (the Ryukyu Islands
and the Daito Islands) from U.S. administration to Japan in 1972 and
rapprochement with the People's Republic of China in the same year were
two remarkable events in the 1970s. As regards its role in the world
economy, Japan has taken various measures to liberalize its markets. As
an important member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development committed to
the maintenance of free trade, Japan currently plays a significant role
in the areas of trade, finance, and economic and technological
assistance. Since 1975 Japan has been a member of the annual
seven-nation economic summit, which was held in Tokyo in 1979 and
1986.In view of Japan's increasing national power and the growing
expectations of other countries in its international role, the
Government from the mid-1980s has adopted a positive attitude toward
expanding Japan's contribution to the global community.
The Japanese archipelago, lying off the eastern coast of the Asian
continent, stretches in a narrow arc 3,800 kilometers long, ranging from
20 degrees, 25 minutes to 45 degrees, 33 minutes north latitude. Japan's
total area of 377,819 square kilometers--slightly larger than the United
Kingdom but only about one-ninth the size of India and one twenty-fifth
that of the United States--represents less than 0.3% of the world's land
area.The archipelago consists of four main islands -
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu,
and Shikoku (from largest to smallest)--a number of island chains, and
thousands of smaller islands. Honshu accounts for over 60% of the total
area.
 Japan's complex topography presents a contrast to its relatively
benign climate. The Japanese islands form part of a long chain of
mountains running from Southeast Asia all the way to Alaska. This has
given the country a long and rocky coastline with many small but
excellent harbors. It has also created a large number of mountainous
areas with numerous valleys, swift-flowing rivers, and clear lakes.
Mountains account for about 71% of Japan's total land area, according to
a survey by the Ministry of Construction's Geographical Survey
Institute. Altogether 532 of these mountains are over 2,000 meters high;
Mount Fuji, the tallest, rises 3,776 meters.
Though it has not erupted since 1707, Mount Fuji is classified as one of
Japan's 77 active volcanoes. These volcanoes provide the country with
one of its most pleasant amenities--mineral hot springs, which serve as
sites for numerous resorts catering to millions of Japanese vacationers
in search of rest and relaxation. Along with this volcanic activity,
Japan is subject to tremors and occasional major earthquakes.
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