EVATT 2017
COUNTRY BRIEFING
Japan
Type of Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Head of Government: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (since 2012)
Capital City: Tokyo Ideology: Democratic, slightly militaristic in recent years
Region: East Asia
Neighbours: By sea: Russia, North Korea, South Korea
DEMOGRAPHICS
•
Population: 127 million
•
Religion: 79.2% Shinto, 66.8% Buddhist (many people
practice both at once)
•
Age: Median 46.5 years (relatively quite old)
•
Ethnicities: 98.5% Japanese
•
Languages: Japanese
ECONOMY
•
Japan's financial system is maintained by the Bank of
Japan
•
Since the mid-20th century, Japan has become an economic powerhouse, maintaining its status as
one of the world’s leaders particularly in the automobile manufacturing and electronics industries. It
is also a hub of innovation, the centre of much of the world’s technological research, especially in
fields like robotics and optical instruments.
•
Japan maintains an advanced system of infrastructure, including lots of spending on roads and
transport.
•
Japan’s energy is sourced largely from fossil fuels – this used to be significantly complemented by
nuclear power, but public will drove the government to make Japan ‘nuclear-free’ in the wake of
the Fukushima Daiichi disaster.
•
The main concerns for Japan’s economy now currently revolve around its high levels of public debt
and worries of a new American-based financial crisis.
•
Japan’s economy has recently slowed down with attempts to increase productivity and efficiency
failing to address sluggish economy growth.
•
One of the world’s most overworked populations with frequent suicides and death by overwork.
Exports
• Major export partners: US 20%, China 17%, South Korea 7%, Taiwan 6%, Hong Kong 6%,
Thailand 5%
•
Main exports: motor vehicles, iron and steel products, semiconductors, auto parts, power
generators, plastic materials
Imports
• Major import partners: China 25%, US 10%, Australia 5%, South Korea 4%, Saudi Arabia 4%,
UAE 4%, Taiwan 4%
•
Includes: Petroleum, liquid natural gas, clothing, semiconductors, coal, A/V equipment
MILITARY
•
Made up of three branches: the Ground Self
Defence Force, Maritime Self-Defence Force
and Air Self-Defence Force. Consists of
250,000 active frontline personnel, and
57,900 active reserve personnel.
•
Article 9 of the Constitution prohibits the
Japanese defence forces from engaging in
war as a means of achieving the country’s
goals, but this has been officially
reinterpreted recently. Japanese defence
forces are now permitted to provide support
to military allies engaged in combat
internationally.
POLITICS
Domestic Politics
•
Prime Minister Abe has, since Upper House elections in 2013, been able to maintain strong and
stable control (through a coalition government) over Japanese politics, with the opposition
disunited in response.
•
In this time, Abe has focused mostly on economic reform, enacting a range of measures aimed at
increasing inflation and stimulating economic growth. He has also promoted a more internationalist
focus through signing on to the TPP and pledging greater military support to allies.
•
As for other policy areas, Abe has enacted somewhat controversial reforms to education policy,
including curriculum changes that de-emphasised Japan’s role in World War 2. Additionally, he has
taken a proactive role in promoting the cause of women, especially in the workplace.
•
One factor threatening Japan in many areas of domestic policy is a looming demographical crisis;
Japan has a very old population and a dangerously low birth rate, which could have a catastrophic
effect on its economy and broader social cohesion.
Foreign Policy Concerns
• Japan is an increasingly significant figure in international diplomacy, particularly in the areas of
economics (being a member of the G7) and Asian issues.
•
Japan is a strong ally of the United States, especially when discussing human rights, security and
generally liberal social policies. It has a functioning but tense relationship with China, and an even
more fraught one with Russia.
•
Like most East Asian states, Japan is embroiled in several territorial disputes with its neighbours.
This has hampered its relations with China (over the Senkaku islands dispute, which is particularly
complex and heated), Russia, South Korea and some South-East Asian states.
•
Japan has become more involved in the region condemning in strong words actions by China with
regards to the South-China Sea and cooperating further with South Korea.
More Information
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
CIA: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html
BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/world/asia
Latest news from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/asia/index
The Economist: http://www.economist.com/sections/asia
Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/asia
Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/topics/regions/asia.html