JapanGroup 3

History of Japan

From the Jomon period (10,000 B.C.) to the Heisei period (1989 to

present), Japan has developed dramatically both agriculturally and

economically. Starting with the Jomon period, where inhabitants of Japan would live the lives of hunters

and gatherers for centuries, until rice cultivation had been introduced from Korea during the Yayoi period (300 B.C.), to later periods such as the Azuchi-Momoyama period and

the Edo period, which were ravaged by war and politics. Now, Japan

thrives as one of the world’s leading democratic powers after

miraculously recovering from World War II.

Japan’s Geography

Size: - 145,882 Sq. Miles-Slightly smaller than the state of California-Ranked 60th largest country -Compared to USA: 3,794,083 Sq. Miles-Ranked 3rd largest country

Population:-As of February 1st: 127,400,000-Ranked 10th most populous country-USA (as of March 13th): 315,481,000-Ranked 3rd most populous Country

Demographics

    Compare with USA

Ranking with other countries

Median age 45.4 years 37.1 years N/A

Population growth rate

-0.077% 0.9% 198

Life expectancy/years 83.91 years 78.94 3

Demographics

Health Expenditures: -9.3% of GDP-Comparison to the world: 40-USA: 16.2% of GDP

Public Debt:-218% of GDP -Country comparison to the world: 1-USA: 73.6% of GDP

Infant Mortality:-Total: 2.21 deaths/1,000 live births    country comparison to the world: 222    male: 2.44 deaths/1,000 live births    female: 1.97 deaths/1,000 live births    USA: 6 deaths/1,000 births    Male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 births    Female: 5.3% deaths/1,000 births

Demographics

Underweight Children:

-According to the CIA World Factbook, being underweight means “weight-for-age is approximately 2 kg below for standard at age one, 3 kg below standard for ages two and three, and 4 kg below standard for ages four and five.”

-Japan has a 1% of children under 5 being underweight.

Literacy Rate

-Japan’s literacy rate is relatively high.

-More than 99% of the population aged 15 and up can read and write.

Japan’s Language

Japanese

- Believed linked to other language families and also showing similarities to Polynesian languages

- Spoken by 125 million people

Japan’s Government

Japan is a unitary government

-Unitary means that all the power is centralized in the federal government

Japanese Yen

Currency and Value to US Dollar:

-The Yen was introduced in the 19th century. It became of dollar value in 1873 as part of the Spanish Pieces of Eight.Japanese Yen is the nations most widely used form of currency.

-Yen means “a round object.”

-Value of the Yen to the US Dollar is extremely low. One Yen dollar is equal to one cent in American currency.

Economy

Known as a technologically advanced economy

Dependent on imported raw materials and fuels

16% of population is in poverty Technologically advanced producers of

motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, and processed foods

Debt as a country is 2.719 trillion while the United States is 14.71 trillion

Economy

Inflation: -Inflation rate is 0.1% and ranked 3rd in comparison to the world while the United States is 2% and ranked 28th in the world.

GDP (Per Capita):-Japan’s is $36,200 and ranked 36th in the world while the United States is $49,800 and ranked 12th in comparison to the world

Unemployment Rate: - Japanese: 4.2%- USA: 7.7%- Ranking: 157th in the world

Economy

Population below Poverty Line:- Japanese: 16%- USA: 15%- Ranked: 17 in the world

Main Imports:Fuel (32 %)Machinery (19 %)Food (9%)Manufactured goods (9%)Chemicals (8.5%)Raw materials (8%)Clothing (4%)

Main Exports:CarsElectronicsComputers

Influence of Samurai Culture

Played a big role throughout Japanese Culture

Basis of the samurai was “bushido”-Bushido: the way of the warrior* importance of bravery, honor, self discipline, and respect became Japan’s role model for behavior.

Needed to be skillful warriors and skilled with learning shown with a popular samurai saying “Bun Bu Ryo Do” meaning “the pen and sword in accord”

Influenced by Zen Buddhism religion:- meditation calmed the mind and allowed the samurai to be one with the sword

Decline of the samurai occurred when the US was allowed into Japan and the powers went back during the Meiji Restoration.

Sword: known as the katana, signified the honor and influence of the samurai

Economy: Education Expenditures

-The latest value for Adjusted savings: education expenditure (current US$) in Japan was 178,418,000,000 as of 2010. Over the past 40 years, the value for this indicator has fluctuated between 178,418,000,000 in 2010 and 5,895,796,000 in 1970.

Definition: Education expenditure refers to the current operating expenditures in education, including wages and salaries and excluding capital investments in buildings and equipment.

2005 148,419,000,000

2006 142,904,000,000

2007 144,107,000,000

2008 160,592,000,000

2009 164,706,000,000

2010 178,418,000,000

Value Chart: 

Environmental Issues

Japan main environmental issue has become air pollution caused by power plants as you see here. The gas from this power plant causes acid rain which affects our people in Japan because of less fresh water and it causes contamination in there aquatic life which causes fishes to die out.

World Issues

Japan biggest problems are tsunami and earthquakes because it caused great damage to the city and killed hundreds of people. The biggest tsunami in that Japan has encountered was 2 years ago in 2011. It wiped out the northern part of Japan killing thousands of people and leaving them with no homes.  Another great issue with Japan is that there are lots of earthquakes which bring down many buildings and cost japan 2.3 trillion dollars in repairs.