conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Japan
Digraph:
JA
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Tokyo
Administrative divisions:
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,
Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa,
Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie,
Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama,
Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi,
Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi,
Yamanashi
Independence:
660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
National holiday:
Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:
3 May 1947
Legal system:
modeled after European civil law system with English-American
influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government:
Prime Minister Tsutomu HATA (since 25 April 1994); Deputy Prime
Minister (vacant)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Diet (Kokkai)
House of Councillors (Sangi-in):
elections last held on 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1995);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (252 total) LDP 95,
SDPJ 68, Shin Ryoku fu-Kai 37, CGP 24, JCP 11, other 17
House of Representatives (Shugi-in):
elections last held on 18 July 1993 (next to be held by NA); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (511 total) LDP 206, SDPJ 74,
Shinseito 62, CGP 52, JNP 37, DSP 19, JCP 15, Sakigake 15, others 19,
independents 10, vacant 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Yohei KONO, president; Yoshiro MORI,
secretary general; Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ), Tomiichi
MURAYAMA; Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Keigo OUCHI, chairman;
Japan Communist Party (JCP), Tetsuzo FUWA, Presidium chairman; Komeito
(Clean Government Party, CGP), Koshiro ISHIDA, chairman; Japan New
Party (JNP), Morihiro HOSOKAWA, chairman; Shinseito (Japan Renewal
Party, JRP), Tsutomu HATA, chairman; Ichiro OZAWA, secretary general;
Sakigake (Harbinger), Masayoshi TAKEMURA, chairman; Mirai (Future
Party), Michihiko KANO, chairman; The Liberal Party, Koji KAKIZAWA,
chairman
note:
Shin Ryoku fu-Kai is a new, upper house only, parliamentary alliance
which includes the JRP, JNP, DSP, and a minor labor group
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP,
CSCE (observer), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LORCS, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Takakazu KURIYAMA
chancery:
2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 939-6700
FAX:
(202) 328-2187
consulate(s) general:
Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu,
Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s):
Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Walter F. MONDALE
embassy:
10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo
mailing address:
Unit 45004, Box 258, Tokyo; APO AP 96337-0001
telephone:
[81] (3) 3224-5000
FAX:
[81] (3) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general:
Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s):
Fukuoka
Flag:
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the
center
@Japan, Economy
Overview:
Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high
technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation have helped
Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most
powerful economy in the world. Industry, the most important sector of
the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels.
Self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its
requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of
the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the
global catch. Overall economic growth has been spectacular: a 10%
average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. Economic
growth came to a halt in 1992-93 largely because of contractionary
domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the
stock and real estate markets. At the same time, the stronger yen and
slower global growth are containing export growth. Unemployment and
inflation remain remarkably low in comparison with the other
industrialized nations. Japan continues to run a huge trade surplus -
$120 billion in 1993, up more than 10% from the year earlier - which
supports extensive investment in foreign assets. The new prime
minister HATA in early 1994 reiterated previous governments' vows of
administrative and economic reform, including reduction in the trade
surplus, but his weak coalition government faces strong resistance
from traditional interest groups. The crowding of the habitable land
area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.549 trillion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
0% (1993)
National product per capita:
$20,400 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
2.5% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$490 billion
expenditures:
$579 billion, including capital expenditures (public works only) of
about $68 billion (FY93)
Exports:
$360.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
manufactures 97% (including machinery 46%, motor vehicles 20%,
consumer electronics 10%)
partners:
Southeast Asia 33%, US 29%, Western Europe 18%, China 5%
Imports:
$240.7 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
manufactures 52%, fossil fuels 20%, foodstuffs and raw materials 28%
partners:
Southeast Asia 25%, US 23%, Western Europe 15%, China 9%
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate -4% (1993); accounts for 30% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
196,000,000 kW
production:
835 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
6,700 kWh (1992)
Industries:
steel and non-ferrous metallurgy, heavy electrical equipment,
construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and parts,
electronic and telecommunication equipment and components, machine
tools and automated production systems, locomotives and railroad
rolling stock, shipbuilding, chemicals, textiles, food processing
Agriculture:
accounts for only 2% of GDP; highly subsidized and protected sector,
with crop yields among highest in world; principal crops - rice, sugar
beets, vegetables, fruit; animal products include pork, poultry, dairy
and eggs; about 50% self-sufficient in food production; shortages of
wheat, corn, soybeans; world's largest fish catch of 10 million metric
tons in 1991
Economic aid:
donor:
ODA and OOF commitments (1970-93), $123 billion
note:
ODA outlay of $9.9 billion in 1994 (est.)
Currency:
yen (Y)
Exchange rates:
yen (Y) per US$1 - 111.51 (January 1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65
(1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Japan, Communications
Railroads:
27,327 km total; 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 25,315 km
predominantly 1.067-meter narrow gauge; 5,724 km doubletrack and
multitrack sections, 9,038 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge electrified,
2,012 km 1.435-meter standard-gauge electrified (1987)
Highways:
total:
1,115,609 km
paved:
782,042 km (including 4,869 km of national expressways)
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, or earth 333,567 km (1991)
Inland waterways:
about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inland seas
Pipelines:
crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural gas 1,800 km
Ports:
Chiba, Muroran, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Tomakomai, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Niigata, Fushiki-Toyama, Shimizu,
Himeji, Wakayama-Shimozu, Shimonoseki, Tokuyama-Shimomatsu
Merchant marine:
926 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,383,101 GRT31,007,515 DWT,
bulk 225, cargo 76, chemical tanker 9, combination ore/oil 9,
container 44, liquefied gas 42, multi-function large load carrier 1,
oil tanker 265, passenger 10, passenger cargo 3, refrigerated cargo
66, roll-on/roll-off cargo 44, short-sea passenger 36, specialized
tanker 2, vehicle carrier 94
note:
Japan also owns a large flag of convenience fleet, including up to 38%
of the total number of ships under the Panamanian flag
Airports:
total:
167
usable:
165
with permanent-surface runways:
137
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
34
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
52
Telecommunications:
excellent domestic and international service; 64,000,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196 major - 1 kw or
greater); satellite earth stations - 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT; submarine cables to US (via Guam), Philippines,
China, and Russia
@Japan, Defense Forces
Branches:
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force), Maritime
Safety Agency (Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 32,044,032; fit for military service 27,597,444; reach
military age (18) annually 953,928 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $45.5 billion, less than 1% of GDP (FY94/95
est.)
@Jarvis Island
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Jarvis Island, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,090 km south of
Honolulu, just south of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and
the Cook Islands
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
4.5 sq km
land area:
4.5 sq km
comparative area:
about 7.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
lacks fresh water
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily
a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife; feral cats
@Jarvis Island, People
Population:
uninhabited; note - Millersville settlement on western side of island
occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II,
when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International
Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by
special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and
educators
@Jarvis Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Jarvis Island
Digraph:
DQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and
Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge System
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
@Jarvis Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Jarvis Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only - one boat landing area in the middle of
the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
Note:
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
@Jarvis Island, Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US
Coast Guard
@Jersey
Header
Affiliation:
(British crown dependency)
@Jersey, Geography
Location:
Western Europe, 27 km from France in the English Channel
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total area:
117 sq km
land area:
117 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
70 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Natural resources:
agricultural land
Land use:
arable land:
57%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population
concentrated in Saint Helier
@Jersey, People
Population:
86,048 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.7% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
12.81 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.1 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.64 years
male:
73.54 years
female:
80.09 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.43 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Channel Islander(s)
adjective:
Channel Islander
Ethnic divisions:
UK and Norman-French descent
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:
English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in
country districts
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
@Jersey, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form:
Jersey
Digraph:
JE
Type:
British crown dependency
Capital:
Saint Helier
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency)
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
English law and local statute
Suffrage:
universal adult at age NA
Executive branch:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of Government:
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Marshal Sir John SUTTON
(since NA 1990); Bailiff Sir Peter L. CRILL (since NA)
cabinet:
committees; appointed by the States
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Assembly of the States:
elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of
vote by party since all are independents; seats - (56 total, 52
elected) 52 independents
Judicial branch:
Royal Court
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag:
white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of
Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
@Jersey, Economy
Overview:
The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and
tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are
important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of
dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export
earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1986 the
finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP,
accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years the
government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the
result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the
traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy
requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food
needs.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
8% (1987 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$308 million
expenditures:
$284.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985)
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
partners:
UK
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,
mineral fuels, chemicals
partners:
UK
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
50,000 kW standby
production:
power supplied by France
consumption per capita:
NA (1992)
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Agriculture:
potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993),
0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); the Jersey
pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Jersey, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
63,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine
cables
@Jersey, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Johnston Atoll
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Johnston Atoll, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Polynesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,430 km
west-southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way between Hawaii
and the Marshall Islands
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
2.8 sq km
land area:
2.8 sq km
comparative area:
about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
10 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with
little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until about 1890)
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and
Sand Island are natural islands; North Island (Akau) and East Island
(Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed to the
public; former nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll
Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
@Johnston Atoll, People
Population:
327 (July 1994 est.)
@Johnston Atoll, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Johnston Atoll
Digraph:
JQ
Type:
unincorportated territory of the US administered by the US Defense
Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the Fish and
Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge system
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
the flag of the US is used
@Johnston Atoll, Economy
Overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military
personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity:
supplied by the management and operations contractor
@Johnston Atoll, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1 with TACAN and beacon
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
excellent system including 60-channel submarine cable, Autodin/SRT
terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System
(MARS station), commercial satellite television system, and UHF/VHF
air-ground radio
@Johnston Atoll, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
@Jordan
Header
Affiliation:
(also see separate West Bank entry)
@Jordan, Geography
Location:
Middle East, between Israel and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
89,213 sq km
land area:
88,884 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total 1,619 km, Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria
375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:
26 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
differences with Israel over the location of the 1949 Armistice Line
that separates the two countries; water-sharing issues with Israel
Climate:
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift
Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Natural resources:
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
0.5%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
0.5%
other:
94%
Irrigated land:
570 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
lack of adequate natural water resources; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
@Jordan, People
Population:
3,961,194 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.5% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
38.77 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.22 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
32.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.85 years
male:
70.04 years
female:
73.77 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.64 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Jordanian(s)
adjective:
Jordanian
Ethnic divisions:
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 8%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle
classes
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
80%
male:
89%
female:
70%
Labor force:
600,000 (1992)
by occupation:
industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction
10.0%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other
services 52.0% (1992)
@Jordan, Government