Japan is an archipelago of over 6,000 islands located in East Asia. It has a rich cultural heritage exemplified by traditions like geisha entertainers, samurai warriors, and the Japanese tea ceremony. The economy has transitioned from a focus on exports of goods like electronics and cars to the US and other countries to the third largest economy in the world today, with a GDP of almost 5 trillion. Key aspects of government and society include the Emperor, National Diet legislature, and Prime Minister-led administration governing over 125 million people from the capital of Tokyo.

3. A Country Rich in Heritage

4. Japan: Archipelago
Over six thousand islands
Four Largest Islands: Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu, and Hokkaido

6. Abundance of earthquakes
Many active volcanoes
Typhoons in the summer months
Possibility of tidal waves

7. Geisha-Entertainers of Japan
Samurai-Warriors of Japan
Kimono-popular clothing
Japanese Tea Ceremony

8. Inbound Goods: Outbound Goods:
Timber Electronics
Oil Cars
Rare Earth Metals Steel
Machine Parts Industrial Tools
Food Machinery

9.  Japanese/U.S. Economy strong-Mid 1900-
1940
 Japan joins GATT in 1955
 Japanese exports to U.S. expand in the 70’s
 MOSS talks begin for U.S./Japan 1984
 WTO gets founded 1995
 U.S./Japan trade falls dramatically 2007

10.  USD=United States Dollar
 JPY=Japanese Yen
 Currency Approximations:
 1 USD = About 300 JPY=The 70’s & 80’s
 1 USD = About 200 JPY=The 90’s
 1 USD = About 100 JPY=2000
 1 USD = About .98 JPY=2013

11.  Emperor
 National Diet
 House of Representatives
 House of Councillors
 Government
 Prime Minister
 Deputy Prime Minister

12.  Capital-Tokyo
 Population-Over 125,000,000
 Economy-Third in the world
 Import/Export-Fourth in the world
 GDP-Almost 5 trillion
 Low birth rate/High death rate

13. The End