Japan and its 66 important Details for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams

Japan and its Details Like , Capital, GDP, Currency, Geography, Economy, Defence, Culture, Natural resources, Habitat, Sports and all you want to know for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams.

Japan and its Basic Details :

Attribute	Description
Name	Japan
Capital	Tokyo
Independence Day	February 11, 660 BC (Mythical Foundation Day), May 3, 1947 (Constitution Day)
Major Religions	Shinto and Buddhism
Currency	Japanese Yen (JPY)
Continent	Asia
Top 5 Famous Cities	Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Sapporo
Top 10 Famous Persons	Emperor Hirohito, Akira Kurosawa, Yukio Mishima, Hayao Miyazaki, Emperor Akihito, Haruki Murakami, Hokusai, Yoko Ono, Taro Aso, Shigeru Miyamoto
Type of Government	Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy
Main Wars Fought	World War II, Sino-Japanese Wars, Russo-Japanese War
GDP	Approximately $5 trillion (2021)
Popular Tourist Places	Mount Fuji, Tokyo Disneyland, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Himeji Castle, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Geography of Japan :

Category	Information
Geography	Details about Japan’s geographical aspects.
Area	377,975 square kilometers
Population	Approximately 126 million
Main Mountain Ranges	1. Japanese Alps 2. Hidaka Mountains 3. Ōu Mountains 4. Akaishi Mountains 5. Chūgoku Mountains
Main Mountain Peaks	1. Mount Fuji 2. Mount Haku 3. Mount Daisen 4. Mount Gassan 5. Mount Tate
Main Rivers	1. Shinano River 2. Tone River 3. Ishikari River 4. Kitakami River 5. Yoshino River
Main Lakes	1. Lake Biwa 2. Lake Kasumigaura 3. Lake Kussharo 4. Lake Mashu 5. Lake Towada
Deserts	None
Plateau	Aizu Basin, Hida Plateau
Volcanoes	1. Mount Fuji 2. Mount Aso 3. Mount Kirishima 4. Mount Bandai 5. Mount Unzen
Main Crops and Vegetation	Rice, vegetables, fruits, tea, and soybeans
Main Beaches	Shirahama Beach, Yuigahama Beach, Zushi Beach, Katsurahama Beach, Yuigahama Beach
Neighboring Countries	Russia, China, South Korea, North Korea
Nearby Seas and Oceans	Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean
Length of Coastline	Approximately 29,751 kilometers
Top 5 Natural Resources	Fish, timber, minerals, agriculture, water resources

Economy of Japan :

Category	Information
Economy	Details regarding Japan’s economic aspects.
Major Industries	1. Automobiles, 2. Electronics, 3. Robotics, 4. Shipbuilding, 5. Pharmaceuticals
Main Revenue Sources	1. Manufacturing, 2. Services, 3. Agriculture, 4. Technology, 5. Tourism
Top 10 Companies	1. Toyota, 2. Sony, 3. Honda, 4. SoftBank Group, 5. Mitsubishi, 6. Panasonic, 7. Nissan, 8. Nintendo, 9. Canon, 10. Hitachi
Per Capita Income	Approximately $42,000 (USD)
Top 5 Imports	1. Mineral fuels including oil, 2. Electrical machinery, 3. Machinery including computers, 4. Optical, technical, medical apparatus, 5. Vehicles
Top 5 Exports	1. Vehicles, 2. Machinery, 3. Electronic equipment, 4. Medical and technical equipment, 5. Plastics
Total Gold Reserves	Approximately 765.2 metric tons

Defence Power of Japan :

Category	Information
Defence	Self-Defense Forces
Size of Defence Budget	¥6.82 trillion (US$51.4 billion) (2023)
Total Number of Army Personnel	247,150
Total Number of Air Force Personnel	144,930
Total Number of Navy Personnel	234,848
Total Defence Imports	2.3 billion USD (2021)
Total Defence Exports	0.9 billion USD (2021)

Cultural of Japan :

Category	Information
Cultural Aspects	Details related to Japan’s cultural elements
Main Festivals	1. Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri), 2. Gion Matsuri, 3. Tanabata Matsuri, 4. Awa Odori, 5. Kanda Matsuri
Main Religious Places	1. Meiji Shrine (Shinto), 2. Sensō-ji Temple (Buddhism), 3. Tōdai-ji Temple (Buddhism), 4. Itsukushima Shrine (Shinto), 5. Kinkaku-ji Temple (Buddhism)
Main Arts and Dances	Noh, Kabuki, Tea Ceremony, Ikebana (flower arrangement), Bon Odori (dance)
Main Languages	Japanese
Famous Food and Cuisines	Sushi, Ramen, Tempura, Sashimi, Wagyu Beef
UNESCO Protected Buildings	1. Himeji Castle, 2. Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu Cities), 3. Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome), 4. Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, 5. Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Sports in Japan :

Category	Details
National Game	Sumo Wrestling
Main Sports	Baseball, Football (Soccer), Judo, Karate, Sumo Wrestling
Top Athletes	– Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) <br> – Naomi Osaka (Tennis) <br> – Rikako Ikee (Swimming)
Top Sports Achievements	– Japan’s Women’s Soccer Team winning the World Cup in 2011 <br> – Japan hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2019 <br> – First Asian nation to win a FIFA World Cup match in 2018

Natural Habitat and wild life of Japan :

Category	Information
Natural Habitat	Forests, mountains, wetlands, coastal areas
Wildlife	Japanese macaque, red-crowned crane, tanuki, sika deer, green pheasant
National Animal	Green pheasant
National Bird	Green pheasant
Main Forests	Japanese cedar, beech, cypress, oak
Main Recognized Habitats	Kushiro Marsh, Shiretoko Peninsula, Yakushima

Biggest in the Japan :

Category	Information
Biggest in the country	Island – Hokkaido
Richest Man	Tadashi Yanai – Founder of Uniqlo, net worth ~$41.3 billion (USD)
Biggest Company	Toyota Motor Corporation – Revenue ~$354.9 billion (USD)
Tallest Building	Tokyo Skytree – 634 meters tall
Tallest Statue	Ushiku Daibutsu – 120 meters tall
Biggest Bridge	Akashi Kaikyo Bridge – 3,757 meters long
Tallest Mountain	Mount Fuji – 3,776 meters tall
Longest River	Shinano River – 367 kilometers long
Biggest Forest	Aokigahara Jukai – 35 square kilometers
Biggest Lake	Biwa Lake – 670 square kilometers

Brief History Of Japan :

This Country’s history is rich and diverse, characterized by distinct periods that have shaped its culture, society, and governance.

Ancient Japan:

• Jomon Period (14,000 BCE – 300 BCE): Considered this Country’s prehistoric era, characterized by hunter-gatherer communities. Notable for the creation of pottery and early agricultural practices.
• Yayoi Period (300 BCE – 300 CE): Marked by the introduction of rice cultivation and metalworking, leading to the establishment of settled communities. Also, saw the emergence of social classes and the beginning of political organization.
• Kofun Period (300 CE – 538 CE): Known for the construction of large burial mounds (kofun) for rulers. This period laid the foundation for centralized rule and the formation of early states.

Medieval Period:

• Nara Period (710 CE – 794 CE): This Country’s capital was established in Nara, influenced by Chinese culture. Buddhism flourished, and the first permanent capital city was built.
• Heian Period (794 CE – 1185 CE): Noted for its cultural advancements, including literature, art, and architecture. The Tale of Genji was written during this era. The aristocracy held power, leading to a feudal system.
• Kamakura Period (1185 CE – 1333 CE): Marked by the rise of the samurai class and the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, this Country’s first military government.

Early Modern Era:

• Muromachi Period (1336 CE – 1573 CE): Witnessed the rise of the Ashikaga Shogunate. This period saw internal conflicts, known as the Sengoku Period, leading to the unification of this Country under the Tokugawa Shogunate.
• Edo Period (1603 CE – 1868 CE): A time of peace and stability under the Tokugawa Shogunate. Isolationist policies were implemented, restricting foreign influence and trade. Art, culture, and urban development thrived.

Modern Era:

• Meiji Restoration (1868 CE – 1912 CE): This Country underwent rapid modernization, adopting Western technologies and restructuring its government. The feudal system ended, and this Country embraced industrialization and constitutional reforms.
• World War I & II: This Country became a global power but faced economic challenges during the Great Depression. Involvement in World War II resulted in devastation and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Post-War Era: Following WWII, this Country experienced significant reconstruction and economic growth, known as the “Japanese economic miracle.” It emerged as a major economic powerhouse, focusing on technology, manufacturing, and innovation.

Recent History:

• Late 20th Century: Japan became a leading technological innovator and an influential player in global economics. It faced economic stagnation in the ’90s but continued to be a major economic force.
• 21st Century: This Country continues to face demographic challenges due to an aging population. It remains a significant global player in technology, trade, and culture.

This Country’s history reflects a blend of tradition and modernity, marked by resilience, adaptation, and an ongoing pursuit of progress.

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