JAPAN

1

Land of the Rising Sun

Agenda2

Country Profile3

Country Profile4

Background & History5

Japan history begins with the migration of people from the Asian mainland during a period in which the sea separating present day Japan from China and the Korean Peninsula was only partially formed. When the sea rose and the land bridges washed away, these first inhabitants of ancient Japan were left to settle the islands.

During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against Japan in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Timeline6

Flag7

National Anthem8

Culture9

Technological sophistication and mass culture have not led to strongly rooted individualism in Japan. Groups are still a very strong source of identity.

Japanese culture consists of the interaction between a strong original Jōmon culture and subsequent influences from the rest of the world. Culture of China was first mostly influential, starting with the development of the Yayoi culture from around 300BC.

10

After several waves of immigration from the continent and nearby Pacific islands (see History of Japan), the inhabitants of Japan experienced a long period of relative isolation from the outside world under the Tokugawa shogunate until the arrival of "The Black Ships" and the Meiji era.

Japan is one of the world's largest exporters of popular culture. Japanese cartoons, comic books, fashion, films, literature, and music have gained popularity around the world, especially in the other countries of Asia.

Culture

Society11

12

One of the earliest groups, the Ainu, who still persist to some extent in Hokkaido, are physically somewhat similar to Caucasians. Japanese is the official language.

Of major concern to Japanese government policy planners are the expected steady decline in the population during the 21st cent. (the population decreased for the first time in 2005) and the large and growing portion of the population that is elderly.

Society

Etiquette13

Gifts & Gift Giving in Business It is considered good luck to give gifts in pairs, such as a double pen set. Do not give gifts in groups of four, as the Japanese word for four means

death. Wrap the gift in pastel colors, but not white, as this color is associated with

death. Do not take flowers; they are not considered an appropriate gift.

Gifts & Gift Giving It is considered impolite to go to someone's house without a gift. In Japanese

this is called tebura ( 手ぶら ?) (empty-handed) Making Payment

Instead of handing a cashier cash from one's hands to the cashier's hands, it is a commonplace practice in Japan to place the money onto a small tray that is placed specifically for the purpose near the cashier machine.

Phone Etiquette The use of mobile phones on public transport is frowned upon, and messages

asking passengers not to make calls and to switch their phones to silent mode ("public mode" or "manners mode" in Japanese) are played frequently.

Etiquette14

The code of etiquette in Japan governs the expectations of social behavior in the country and is considered very important

Greetings are considered to be of importance in Japanese culture When greeting people, always bow before the person, and they will bow to you as well.

ohayō gozaimasu ( おはようございます ?) or "good morning" oyasuminasai ( お休みなさい ?) or "good night"

Home Etiquette Removal of the shoes before entering a house is customary and in even

Westernized homes, a room can be found with a tatami (Japanese mat) During the winter time, if a guest is wearing a coat or hat, the guest will take it off

before the host opens the door. Dining Etiquette

It is considered particularly taboo to pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks. In sushi-only restaurants, it is acceptable to use fingers instead of chopsticks to eat

the nigiri-zushi. In Japan, you say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and

"gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") after finishing the meal. It is considered polite to clear one's plate, even to the last grain of rice

Language and Dialects15

Japanese is the sixth most spoken language in the world Japanese is believed to be linked to the Altaic language

family, which includes Turkish, Mongolian and other languages, but also shows similarities to Austronesian languages like Polynesian.

Dozens of dialects are spoken in Japan Japanese uses four different writing systems; Kanji (Chinese

characters), Hiragana (phonetic alphabet for native words), Katakana (phonetic alphabet for foreign words), and R-omaji (western alphabet used to write Japanese)

16

Dialects are used in areas, particularly in Kyoto and Osaka, but standard Japanese, based on the speech of Tokyo, has become more popular through the use of television, radio and movies.

In newspapers, the words of Chinese and origin number greater than the Japanese native words.

Japanese is written using two systems of orthography, Chinese characters and syllabifies.

Language and Dialects

Religeous Practices17

There are two principal religions in Japan, Shintoism and Buddhism, officially followed by 54% and 40% of the population respectively.

The Japanese people's concern towards religion is mostly related to mythology, traditions, and neighborhood activities rather than as a source of morality or a guideline for one's life.

The largest new religion is Soka Gakkai, a Buddhist sect, founded in 1930. Its declared motto is peace, culture and education.

Geography18

19

Neighboring Countries

Government 20

Government type: Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government Independence: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU) National holiday: Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933) Constitution: 3 May 1947 Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal The Japanese Constitution contains thirty-one articles relating to human

rights and it also provides for the separation of three powers: Legislative, Judicial and Governmental power.

The law of Japan was historically heavily influenced by Chinese law The modernization of the Law of Japan was based on the European legal

system.

Technology21

Mobile technology Mobile subscriber penetration77.6%, Internet user

penetration34.3%, Broadband subscriber penetration Japan is a leader in mobile phone (keitai denwa) technology

and usage with about 75% of the population owning one. The only foreign phones that work in Japan are some 3G

models, however the number of compatible phones is increasing.

Japanese research and development efforts increasingly stress what one Japanese policymaker calls the "fusion" solution, or combining advances in different technologies to generate new products and innovations.

Electronic goods, such as TVs, stereo sets, cameras and computers are relatively inexpensive at stores like Yamada Denki, Yodobashi Camera, Sakuraya and Bic Camera, and in discount shopping areas like Akihabara in Tokyo.

Japan leads the world in robotics, possessing more than half (402,200 of 742,500) of the world's industrial robots used for manufacturing.

Technology Differences22

Telephones - main lines in use: 47.579 million (2008)country comparison to the world: 4 Telephones - mobile cellular: 110.395 million (2008)country comparison to the world: 7 Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind international: country code – 81

Radio broadcast stations: AM 215 (plus 370 repeaters), FM 89 (plus 485 repeaters), shortwave 21 (2001)

Television broadcast stations: 211 (plus 7,341 repeaters); in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)

Internet country code: .jp Internet hosts: 47.249 million (2009)country comparison to the world: 2 Internet users: 90.91 million (2008)country comparison to the world: 3

Political System23

The politics of Japan is conducted in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, where Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government.

The current government is led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Most political parties in Japan are small and do not have broad, mass memberships;

their members are mainly professional politicians. The ruling coalition is formed by the liberal Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the

leftist Social Democratic Party and the conservative People's New Party The Imperial Household of Japan is headed by Emperor Akihito Military: Sixth largest in the world Foreign Relations

Close with the United States - Japan maintains close economic and military relations with its key ally and partner, the United States, and therefore the US-Japan security alliance serves as the cornerstone of its foreign policy.

Economy24

The Japanese economy is one of the largest in the world Japan's farming population has been declining steadily and was

less than 5% of the total population in 2004; agriculture accounted for less than 2% of the gross domestic product.

Fishing is highly developed, and the annual catch is one of the largest in the world.

Japanese industry is concentrated mainly in S Honshu and N Kyushu, with centers at Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, and Nagoya.

20.1% of outsourcing firms outsourced their job training, compared with 19.7% for information systems, 17.4% for production processes, 14% for accountancy and tax affairs and 13.7% for R&D.

Economy25

Exports: Cars, electronic devices and computers.

Most important trade partners are China and the USA, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Germany.

Imports: The most important import goods are raw

materials such as oil, foodstuffs and wood. Major supplier is China, followed

by the USA, Australia, Saudia Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

Japanese Culture as Export26

10% of GNP is ‘cultural export’ material 300% growth in cultural exports between 1996-

2008 Foreign Ministry have started traveling abroad to

introduce Japanese pop culture to young people overseas.

Anime, manga and cosplay are part of “Japanese youth culture” and have proven surprisingly popular with young people around the world.

Economy27

Industries: Manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate, services, and communication are Japan's major industries today. Agriculture makes up only about two percent of the GNP. Most important agricultural product is rice. Resources of raw materials are very limited and the mining industry rather small.

Summary28

Harmony is a key value in Japanese society and is the guiding philosophy for the Japanese in family and business settings and in society as a whole.

In Japan, the family is of great importance, and you will often find several generations living under one roof.

You are expected to respect and honor elders and obey family laws.

You are not likely to see a Japanese man lose his temper or show immense emotion; this results in a loss of integrity, therefore, a loss of face.

Punctuality is important.

Japanese place a great deal of importance into what is not being said, whereas Westerners have a need to fill the gaps in conversation.

The Japanese word kimono means "something one wears" and they are the traditional garments of Japan.

Today, despite suffering massive losses during World War II and possessing very little natural resources, Japan has become an economic and technological powerhouse.

All business and personal dealings in Japan happen only when a strong relationship of trust has been established. Trust is the foundation of any business and a transaction will follow only after the Japanese counterpart has been assured of trust.