Japan Facts

• FACTS ABOUT JAPAN
  
  Population: 127 million (2006) (U.S. is 300 million)
  
  Ethnicity of People: Over 99% Japanese
  
  Language: Japanese
  
  Land: Roughly equivalent to the size of California
  
  Land consists of four main islands with many small islands. The main islands are Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido. Japan is quite
  mountainous.
  
  
  Largest cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka,
  
  Climate: Varies greatly – from sub-arctic to sub-tropic. Most of Japan has four seasons and a rainy season from early June to mid-July.
  
  Electricity: 100 V (60 or 50 Hertz depending on location)
  
  Time Zone: GMT +9 (14 - 1 5 hours ahead of CST)
  
  Weights & measures: Metric
  
  Currency: Japanese yen
  
  Prime Minister: Taro Aso (2009)
  
  Government: Democracy with upper and lower house and Prime Minister. The emperor has no governmental power.
  
  Emperor: Akihito (since 1989, married to Empress Michiko)
  
  Religion: Shintoism, Buddhism, Christianity
  
  Transportation: Mainly use public transportation. Driving is on left.