Japan (the
land of the rising sun) is composed of four main islands, stretching north to south:
Hokkaiko, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. It also includes the islands of Okinawa and around
4,000 smaller islands. The whole of Japan would fit inside the state of California. The
capital is Tokyo.
While retaining its
time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an
economic power 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 starting in
the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.
