Area: 377,864 sq. km. (145,902 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than
California. Cities: Capital--Tokyo. Other cities--Yokohama,
Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka. Terrain: Rugged,
mountainous islands. Climate: Varies from subtropical to
temperate. Nationality: Noun and adjective--Japanese. Population
(2001): 126.8 million. Population growth rate (2000): 0.18%.
Ethnic groups: Japanese; Korean (0.6%). Religions: Shinto and
Buddhist; Christian (about 0.7%). Health (2000): Infant
mortality rate--3.9/1,000. Life expectancy--males 77 yrs.,
females 84 yrs. Work force (64 million, 2001): Services--23%;
trade, manufacturing, mining, and construction--56%;
agriculture, forestry, fisheries--6%; government--3%. Type:
Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government.
Constitution: May 3, 1947. Branches: Executive--prime minister
(head of government). Legislative--bicameral Diet (House of
Representatives and House of Councillors). Judicial--civil law
system based on the model of Roman law. Administrative subdi