Japan

Japan is an island nation in east Asia, extending along the Pacific Coast of Asia. It has four main islands and more than 6,800 smaller ones. Japan is a major economic power and has one of the most advanced technological industrial structures in the world. In 2011, the population stood at about 127.7 million. Japan has a long history as a country and has a long tradition of [Page 408]education. Today, various aspects of Japanese culture affect many other parts of the world. Japan has historically had numerous disasters, such as earthquakes, and is the only country to have been devastated by atomic bombs.

The Early Kingdom Period began in the 4th century. Successive emperors created the foundation of the country through contact with cultures in ...