Japan coastline. Japan. Geographic location. The state and political system of Japan

This video tutorial is dedicated to the topic "Japan, general characteristics". You will be told about the demographic revolution and the socio-economic transformations that have taken place in society. The stages of industrial development, features will become known local population. You will also learn about transport system Japan is one of the best in the world.

Theme: Overseas Asia

Lesson: Japan, general characteristics

Japan is an island nation located on Japanese archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, which includes more than 6500 islands. The largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The shores of the archipelago are strongly indented and form many bays and coves.

The seas and oceans washing Japan are of exceptional importance for the country as a source of biological, mineral and energy resources. Territory area - 388 thousand square meters. km, population - 126 million people. (10th place in the world), the capital is Tokyo.

The economic and geographical position of Japan is determined primarily by the fact that it is located in the center of the Asia-Pacific region, which contributes to the country's active participation in the international geographical division of labor.

The geological basis of the archipelago is underwater mountain ranges. About 80% of the territory is occupied by mountains and hills with a highly dissected terrain. medium height 1600 - 1700 m. There are about 200 volcanoes, 90 are active, including the highest peak - Mount Fuji (3776 m). Frequent earthquakes and tsunamis also have a significant impact on the economy of Japan.

The country is poor in minerals, but coal, lead and zinc ores, oil, sulfur, and limestone are being mined. The resources of its own deposits are small, so Japan is the largest importer of raw materials.

Japan is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of population. Japan became the first Asian country to switch from the second to the first type of population reproduction. Now the birth rate is 12%, the death rate is 8%. Life expectancy in the country is the highest in the world (76 years for men and 82 years for women).

The population is distinguished by national homogeneity, about 99% are Japanese. Of the other nationalities, the number of Koreans and Chinese is significant. The most common religions are Shintoism and Buddhism. The population is unevenly distributed over the area. The average density is 340 people per sq. km, but coastal areas Pacific Ocean are among the most densely populated in the world.

More than 85% of the country's inhabitants live in cities. 11 cities are millionaires.

Rice. 2. Map largest cities Japan ()

The largest urban agglomerations are Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka. The agglomerations merge into the Tokyo Megalopolis (Takaido) with a population of more than 65 million people.

Rates of growth Japanese economy were among the highest in the second half of the 20th century. The country has largely carried out a qualitative restructuring of the economy. Japan is at the post-industrial stage of development, which is characterized by a highly developed industry, but the most growing area is the non-manufacturing sector (services, finance, R&D).

Although Japan is poor in natural resources and imports raw materials for most industries, it ranks 1-2 in the world in the output of many industries. Industry is mainly concentrated within the Pacific industrial belt.

Power industry. Mainly uses imported raw materials. Oil is the leader in the structure of the resource base, the share of natural gas, hydropower and nuclear power is growing, and the share of coal is declining.

In the electric power industry, 60% of the capacity comes from thermal power plants and 28% from nuclear power plants, including Fukushima, the most powerful in the world.

HPPs are located in cascades on mountain rivers. In terms of hydroelectric power generation, Japan is among the top ten countries. In resource-poor Japan, alternative energy sources are being actively developed.

Ferrous metallurgy. In terms of steel production, the country ranks second in the world. The share of Japan in the world market of ferrous metallurgy is 23%.

The largest centers, now operating almost entirely on imported raw materials and fuel, are located near Osaka, Tokyo, in the city of Fujiyama.

Non-ferrous metallurgy. Due to the detrimental effect on environment reduced primary smelting of non-ferrous metals. Converting plants are located in all major industrial centers.

Engineering. Gives 40% of industrial production. The main sub-sectors among the many developed in Japan are electronics and electrical engineering, the radio industry and transport engineering.

Japan firmly occupies a leading position in the world in shipbuilding, specializes in the construction of large-capacity tankers and dry cargo ships. The main centers of shipbuilding and ship repair are located in major ports(Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kobe). In terms of car production (8.5 million units per year), Japan also ranks 2nd in the world. The main centers are Toyota, Yokohama, Hiroshima.

The main enterprises of general engineering are located within the Pacific industrial belt - complex machine tool building and industrial robots in the Tokyo region, metal-intensive equipment - in the Osaka region, machine tool building - in the Nagai region.

The share of the country in the world output of the radio-electronic and electrical industry is exceptionally large.

By level development of the chemical industry Japan occupies one of the first places in the world.

Japan also developed pulp and paper, light and food industries.

Agriculture Japan remains an important industry, although it contributes about 2% of GNP; the industry employs 6.5% of the economically active population. Agricultural production is focused on food production (the country itself provides 70% of its needs).

13% of the territory is cultivated in the structure of crop production (provides 70% of agricultural products). The leading role is played by the cultivation of rice and vegetables, and horticulture is developed. Animal husbandry (cattle breeding, pig breeding, poultry farming) is intensively developing.

Due to the exclusive place of fish and seafood in the diet of the Japanese, the country fishes in all areas of the World Ocean, has more than three thousand fishing ports and has the largest fishing fleet (over 400 thousand vessels).

Rice. 4. Fish market in Japan ()

Transport. In Japan, all types of transport are developed, with the exception of river and pipeline transport. In terms of cargo transportation, the first place belongs to road transport(60%), the second place - sea. Role railway transport is declining, while air travel is growing. Due to very active foreign economic relations, Japan has the largest merchant fleet in the world.

Rice. 5. High speed train in Japan ()

The territorial structure of the economy is characterized by a combination of two completely different parts. The Pacific belt is the socio-economic core of the country. Here are the main industrial regions, ports, highways and developed agriculture. The peripheral zone includes areas where timber harvesting, animal husbandry, mining, hydropower, tourism and recreation are most developed. Despite the implementation of the regional policy, the smoothing of territorial disproportions is rather slow.

The main partners of Japan are: USA, China, Republic of Korea.

Homework

Topic 7, Item 3

1. What are the features geographical location Japan?

2. Tell us about the economy of Japan.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 cells: Textbook for educational institutions / A.P. Kuznetsov, E.V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.

2. Economic and social geography of the world: Proc. for 10 cells. educational institutions / V.P. Maksakovskiy. - 13th ed. - M .: Education, JSC "Moscow textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.

3. Atlas with kit contour maps for grade 10. Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Omsk Cartographic Factory", 2012. - 76 p.

Additional

1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A.T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., cart.: tsv. incl.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections

1. Geography: a guide for high school students and university applicants. - 2nd ed., corrected. and dorab. - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the GIA and the Unified State Examination

1. Thematic control in geography. Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2009. - 80 p.

2. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.

3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Textbook / Comp. EM. Ambartsumova, S.E. Dyukov. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2012. - 256 p.

4. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.

5. Geography. Diagnostic work in the format of the Unified State Examination 2011. - M .: MTSNMO, 2011. - 72 p.

6. USE 2010. Geography. Collection of tasks / Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 272 p.

7. Tests in geography: Grade 10: to the textbook by V.P. Maksakovskiy “Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.

8. Study guide for geography. Tests and practical tasks in geography / I.A. Rodionov. - M.: Moscow Lyceum, 1996. - 48 p.

9. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.

10. Unified state exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for the preparation of students / FIPI - M .: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.

11. Geography. Answers on questions. Oral exam, theory and practice / V.P. Bondarev. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2003. - 160 p.

12. USE 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks / O.V. Chicherina, Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.

13. USE 2012. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2011. - 288 p.

14. USE 2011. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2010. - 280 p.

Materials on the Internet

1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements ( ).

2. Federal portal Russian Education ().

Introduction

Japan is the "Land of the Rising Sun". The name of the country - Japan - is transmitted by two hieroglyphs. The first of these signs means "sun", the second - "root, foundation" hence the allegorical name of Japan "the land of the rising sun".

Features of the geographical position of Japan influenced the development of the traditional culture of the country. For centuries, the sea has been a natural barrier both to military invasions and to the direct influence of other cultures. Therefore, geographic isolation also entailed complete cultural isolation. Hence the strange combination of traditional European developed countries and non-traditional, unlike anything culture.

General information

Japan is an island state in East Asia, in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. It is located on four large islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyusu and numerous (about 4 thousand) small islands adjoining them, stretching along the coast of the mainland from northeast to southwest for more than 3 thousand km. Other names: Nikon, Nippon, Land of the Rising Sun. Territory: 372.2 thousand km 2. Capital - Tokyo (11.9 million inhabitants); other big cities with a population of over 1 million: Yokohama (3.27 million), Osaka (2.48 million), Kobe (1.46 million), Nagaya (2.1 million), Kyoto (1.9 million .), Sapporo, Hiroshima, Fuktsok, Kawasaki (1.1 million)

Administrative-territorial division - 46 prefectures and governorate.

It is washed by: from the southeast - by the Pacific Ocean, from the west - by the East China, from the northwest - by the Sea of ​​Japan, from the north - by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The highest point in Japan is Mount Fuji (3776 m).

Borders: in the north - with Russia (Sakhalin Island, the Kuriles), in the south - with the Philippines, in the west and northwest - with China and South Korea. All borders are maritime.

Length coastline is 29.8 thousand km.

Natural conditions and resources

There are few minerals. They are mainly represented by deposits of coal (the northern part of Kyushu, Ishikari on the island of Hokkaido, Dzeban and Motayama on Honshu), oil (the western coast of the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido), ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Iron ore deposits are small (Kamansi in the northern part of the island of Honshu, etc.). Copper ore deposits are of great importance - vein (Asio), skarn (Sasagatani and Yaguka) and pyrite deposits (Bessie and others). Ores of lead and zinc are being developed (deposits of Kaligoka and Hosokura on the island of Honshu), tin, tungsten, nickel, antimony, deposits of aluminum raw materials. More significant deposits of manganese, pyrite, sulfur. Gold and partly silver are mined from deposits associated mainly with young volcanic rocks (the Kagoshima region on the island of Kyushu and many others).

The natural conditions of the country are diverse: from the tropical coral islands of the south through the subtropics (Shikoku Island), areas with a temperate climate (Honshu Island) to cold areas (Hokkaido Island), where the landscape resembles that of Central Russia. The main features of the Japanese climate are monsoons and humidity. The average annual temperature in Hokkaido is about 8 ° C, in the Ryukyu archipelago - 22 ° C. The island of Hokkaido and the north of Honshu are characterized by short summers and severe long winters with winds blowing from Siberia and the Okhotsk Strait. Further east and south, thanks to the warm Kurosno current, winters are milder and snowless, and summers are hot and humid. The average annual rainfall varies from 1020 mm in Hokkaido to 3810 mm per year in the mountains of the central Honshu region.

Lowlands and lands suitable for agriculture make up only 15% of the territory, the rest is occupied by mountains. The ridges stretched from north to south along the entire coast of the islands. On the island of Hokkaido, the mountain range of volcanic origin located in the Kuriles continues. On the island of Honshu, it is already represented by two parallel ranges, of which the main one forms in the south the highest massif of the country with the highest point. G. Fujiyama. One of the lower ranges is called the Japanese Alps because of its scenic beauty. There is another mountain range in the south of Honshu. On the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku there are small mountains with a height of no more than 1982 m (the city of Ishitsuki on I. Shikoku). An essential feature of the Japanese islands are volcanoes (out of 188 - more than 40 active), frequent earthquakes (some of them are catastrophic) and the danger of tsunamis - waves caused by earthquakes on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, causing great material damage and leading to human casualties. Typhoons also collect their tribute from the inhabitants of the islands, passing, as a rule, in July and August. There are many hot springs in the volcano zone.

There are many rivers in Japan, almost not navigable. The longest river is the Shinano on the island of Honshu. In addition to it, Tone, Kitakam, Tenri and Mogali flow here; on about. Hokkaido - Ishikari, Closely, Tokachi; on about. Shikoku - Yesin. Japanese lakes are mostly mountainous; popular resorts are usually located next to them. The largest lake Biwa is located on about. Honshu.

Due to the humid and hot climate, the vegetation of Japan is quite rich. There are more than 17 thousand plant species in the country, many of which are endemic. Forests occupy more than 2/3 of the territory. On about. Hokkaido vegetation resembles Siberian - larch, several types of spruce grow in coniferous forests, sometimes birch and poplar are found (in the south). On about. Konshu, Kyushu and Shikoku grow subtropical evergreen forests (eucalyptus, myrtle, holly, bamboo, banyan, camphor laurel). The Japanese are well versed in the art of growing dwarf pines, plums, etc. (bonai) for parks and gardens, when the height of the tree does not exceed 30 cm.

The Japanese consider cherry, sakura and plum as national flowering trees, which bloom early and symbolize the arrival of spring and the rebirth of all living things. Azaleas bloom in April, peonies in May. In November, chrysanthemums bloom on the islands - the national flower of Japan - of which a huge number of varieties are bred here. The flower festival is dedicated to this every year.

The fauna includes 140 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, many reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Some animals are endemic. On about. Honshu is inhabited by Japanese macaques and red-faced monkeys. Of the two species of deer, the Japanese sika deer is of particular interest. Predators are represented by brown, black and red bears. Snow leopard, mink, fox, otter, squirrel, mice are common (no domestic mice). Among the songbirds, the nightingale and the bullfinch predominate. Hunting led to the almost complete destruction of the Ussuri crane. Now this species is protected by the state.

Population

The population of Japan is 125.93 million (1998). Japan is practically a mono-ethnic country: 99.4% are Japanese, the rest are Koreans, Chinese, Americans, Ainu (descendants of the ancient population of the country) and others. The official language is Japanese, but many people know English, the main religions are Sintaism and Buddhism. The monetary unit is the Japanese yen. National holiday - December 23 - Emperor Akihito's birthday (1933).

In NP per capita: $32,640. Most Japanese live in overcrowded cities located on the coastal plains. The metropolitan regions of Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo are among the most populated in the world.

These cities have subways. The islands are interconnected by underwater tunnels, ferries and bridges.

In order to save space, the Japanese invented the so-called "capsule rooms", in which only a sleeping place is placed. Hotels with such rooms are much cheaper than ordinary ones, and they are used by businessmen who come for a short time on business.

The desire of the Japanese for knowledge deserves special attention. There are more than 40 universities in the country, in the capital - the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Arts and Music, theaters and libraries. From an early age, children are instilled with curiosity and interest in nature. Firms sponsor the education of their employees' children, take care of housing, vacations, and medical care for their employees. The high intensity of work, where every minute is appreciated, is combined with obligatory classes in the group to improve the quality of the manufactured product, as well as with the obligatory trips of all employees of the company to any healing thermal spring or to an area famous for its especially beautiful landscape.

National character of the Japanese

The Japanese national character, like the national character of any other nation, appears as a system of character traits. Reduced into a hierarchy, these features represent a very specific image of an ethnic community. General ethnic features, features of group behavior and everyday life features are distinguished.

General ethnic features. Diligence, a highly developed aesthetic sense, love for nature, adherence to traditions, a tendency to borrow, and ethnocentrism stand out among the common ethnic features.

Diligence and the diligence associated with it in all spheres of labor activity is the most important feature of the Japanese national character. They express their sense of beauty primarily in the process of labor. Enriching his labor activity with elements of aesthetics, the Japanese, as it were, warms up the labor zeal inherent in him.

Love for beauty is characteristic of all peoples, but the Japanese have an increased craving for beauty - this is an integral part of the national tradition. In general, traditionalism has penetrated into the behavior, thoughts and aspirations of the Japanese nation, and has become an important feature of its national character. This feature helped the Japanese to withstand the cultural onslaught of the West, to save "its own face". Borrowings from the Japanese do not look like a simple assimilation of a foreign culture, but as the development of their own cultural and historical principles.

Features of group behavior. These include discipline, devotion to authority, a sense of duty.

Ordinary life traits. These include politeness, accuracy, self-control, thrift, curiosity.

The core feature is self-control. Such a variety of it as restraint has long been considered by the Japanese as the main sign of belonging to the Japanese nation. The Japanese have strict life rules that they try to adhere to: 1) make peace with the situation; 2) limit yourself in entertainment; 3) consider yourself the cause of troubles and even misfortunes.

Another important feature of the Japanese way of life is politeness. Any word, gesture, deed, even an impulse bears the stamp of politeness. Recently, there have been tangible shifts in the way of life and in the minds of the Japanese. Traditional value orientations are gradually being eroded. The Japanese are trying to find new ideals. This is especially noticeable among young people.

Curiosity is evidenced by the number of educational institutions. The largest state universities are Tokyo, Kyoto, Rsak, Hokkaido. Of the private ones, Tokyo's universities are the most famous: Nihon, Wasedi, Meiji, Tokai, Hosei, Keio..

Japan publishes 420 newspapers with a total circulation of about 70 million copies. The largest newspapers are Yomiuri (over 14 million copies), Asahi (12.7 million copies), Mainichi (10 million copies), Nihon Keizan Shimbun (about 4 million copies). copies), "Sankei Shimbun" (over 3 million copies), "Chunichi Shimbun" (over 3 million copies). national news agencies - Kyodo Cishin and Jiji Tsushin. There are more than 100 television companies, including the semi-state television and radio broadcasting corporation NHK, the largest commercial television companies - NTV, TBS, Fuji, TV Asahi.

Political structure

Japan is a constitutional monarchy, where the head of state - the emperor - does not have real power and is a symbol of the unity of the nation. Main legislative body: bicameral parliament, consisting of the House of Representatives (512 deputies, elected for 4 years) and the Chamber of Councilors (252 deputies, elected for 6 years, with re-election of half of the members every 3 years).

Main political parties and public organizations:

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) - ruling, established in 1955; it includes about 1.5 million people. Enjoys the support of big business, is closely connected with the highest echelon of the state apparatus and municipal authorities, has a significant influence in the urban middle strata and among the rural population. The LDP has 263 seats in the House of Representatives and 103 in the House of Councilors. Leaders: K. Obiti, I. Mori, Y. Ikeda, T. Fukaya.

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the second largest opposition party, has 92 members in the lower house and 47 in the upper house. Created in September 1996, it unites young liberal politicians. Leaders: N. Kan, Yu. Hatoyama, Ts. Khata). With the collapse in December 1997 of the New Frontier Party (Shinsinto), which until then was considered the main opposition structure, the DPJ began to claim the role of the main consolidator of centrist opposition groups. In January 1998, the DPJ rallied around itself a number of small parties and parliamentary groups (the New Friendship Party, the Voice of the People party, the Taiyoto party, the From Five parliamentary groups and the League for Democratic Reforms), which led to the formation of the opposition parliamentary bloc Michuren.

Liberal Party of Japan. Leader - I. Ozawa; 40 deputies in the House of Representatives and 12 in the House of Councilors. Unites deputies of the neoconservative and nationalist directions, was previously a member of the New Frontiers Party.

The New Peace Party (47 deputies in the House of Representatives and 3 seats in the House of Councilors) is a parliamentary group that has rallied in its ranks mainly former members of the Komeito party who adhere to a centrist orientation.

Japanese Communist Party (JPJ). Founded in 1922. Until 1945 she was in an illegal position. It has about 300 thousand members. Enjoys the support of part of the state military and municipal employees, workers of small enterprises. It has 26 seats in the House of Representatives and 23 in the House of Councilors. Leaders: K. Miyamoto, T. Fuwa, K. Sim.

Social Democratic Party. Founded in 1945, it has about 110,000 members. Represents the interests of part of the trade unions, the middle strata of the population, small urban entrepreneurs, part of the intelligentsia and employees. It has 15 seats in the House of Representatives and 13 in the House of Councilors. Leaders: T. Doi, S. Ito.

New Party - Initiative (Sakigake). It was formed in June 1993 on the basis of liberal deputies who left the Liberal Democratic Party and relies on representatives of the bureaucratic apparatus. Has 2 mandates in the House of Representatives and 3 in the House of Councilors. Leaders: S. Ide, H. Sonoda.

Trade unions retain a noticeable influence on social processes in the country (covering about 12.3 people or 24.5% of EAI): the Confederation of Trade Unions - Rengo (over 7.6 million members), the National Federation of Trade Unions - Zenroren (about 1.4 million). members) and the National Council of Trade Union Communications - Zenroke (about 400 thousand members).

Story

The first early class state in Japan was formed in the 4th century AD. on the basis of the Yamato tribal union, whose ancestors came to the islands from somewhere in the jungles of Southeast Asia. From the end of the 12th century (namely, from 1192) to the middle of the 19th century (until 1868), with some intervals, state power was in the hands of military-feudal rulers - the shoguns (the emperor remained the religious head of state). From the beginning of the XVIII century, with the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan was closed to the outside world. Japan's self-isolation was interrupted in 1853 when Japan signed a treaty with the United States, opening a number of ports to American ships. Similar treaties were concluded with some other countries, including Russia - the Samoyed Treaty on Trade and Borders, signed on 26.01. (according to the old style) 1855 during the expedition to Japan of the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian emperor, vice-admiral E.V. Putyatin.

According to the first Russian-Japanese treaty, the border between the two countries was drawn between the islands of Iturup and Urup, with the first departing to Japan, and the latter and all the Kuril Islands included in Russia - Sakhalin remained in joint possession (Russia fully acquired the right to it under the Petersburg Treaty 1875 with Tokyo, ceding all the Kuril Islands in return).

The liquidation of the shogunate regime and the restoration of the emperor's power after the Meiji revolution (1867-1868) cleared the field for Japan's capitalist development. Since the end of the 19th century, Japan's policy has acquired an aggressive, expansive character. After the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. she seized South Sakhalin. Japanese intervention in Russian Far East in 1918-1922 ended in failure. In 1931 Japanese troops occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 Japan started a war against China.

Having entered into an alliance with Germany and Italy, in 1941 Japan launched large-scale military operations in the Pacific Ocean, but ultimately was defeated by the allied powers, including the USSR, which, by agreement with the United States and Great Britain, entered the war with Japan in August 1945 In accordance with the Yalta Agreement of the three powers - the USSR, the USA, Great Britain - signed in February 19+45, after the end of the war, South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands were returned to the USSR.

As a result of the defeat in the war, Japan lost its colonies, lost a significant part of its national wealth, and was thrown back several decades. The country was occupied by American troops. At the same time, Japan got the opportunity to develop along the path of demilitarization and democratization, and culture was effectively used.

Adopted with the active influence of the Americans, the Constitution of 1947 proclaimed the sovereign power of the people, democratic rights and freedoms. The emperor lost his powers. Japan renounced the use of armed force as a means of resolving international disputes. Law reforms in the country laid the foundation for the subsequent rapid economic development of the country, which eventually brought it into the ranks of the leading industrialized countries in the world. At the same time, the unfolding "cold" war, as well as the war in Korea (1950-1953) determined the country's foreign policy guidelines for decades to come simultaneously with the international San Francisco peace treaty signed in September 1951 on security guarantees, in accordance with which gave the United States the right to station its armed forces in Japan and establish military bases. In 19601, the USA and Japan concluded a new agreement on mutual cooperation and security guarantees, which has been automatically renewed since 1970.

With the end of the Cold War, the Japanese leadership, which is firmly committed to the basic principles of military-political cooperation with the United States, is making efforts to fill the security treaty with new content. This is manifested in Tokyo's desire to switch the focus of the document from the joint defense of the Japanese archipelago to the development of Japanese-American measures "to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region" aimed at expanding the geographical boundaries of partnership. The implementation of these ideas puts the country in front of the need to revise the existing constitutional foundations, recognize Japan's right to collective self-defense, lift the ban on the export of weapons and adopt special legislation regulating interaction with the United States in crisis situations, which has already been partly reflected in the adopted in November 1995. long-term concept of national security and guidelines for Japanese-American cooperation in the field of defense (adopted in September 1997).

Economy

Japan is a highly developed country that ranks second (after the United States) in terms of financial power. Japan's GDP is over 14% of the world's. In terms of GNP per capita, it has surpassed the United States.

Since the mid-1980s, Japan has become the largest creditor of the capitalist world, the total amount of its foreign assets currently exceeds 1 trillion. dollars.

Since the beginning of the 90s. there was a certain slowdown in the economic development of the country. Only since the end of 1995 have there been signs of a gradual recovery from the state of economic depression, although at present the economy is going through a difficult period of stagnation. The GDP growth rate in real terms in 1997 was 0.9%.

The EAN of Japan is dominated by hired workers - about 44.5 million people. Independent hosts - 9.1 million (15.4%), helping family members - 5.5 million (9.3%). The country has a relatively high productivity of working time - about 2088 hours / year; in the USA - 1924, in Germany - 1655. The average monthly salary is about 400 thousand yen (about 4 thousand dollars). The inflation rate is about 2% per year and unemployment - 3.9%.

Since the end of the 80s, due to the aggravation of economic contradictions with the main trading partners (primarily the United States), the growing competition from the newly industrialized countries, Japan has been restructuring the economy in order to expand domestic demand, increase the role of the service sector and informatics, develop own scientific and technical potential.

An element of the adaptation of the Japanese economy to the new conditions was the transfer of production capacities of the manufacturing industry abroad - to countries with capacious markets, cheaper labor and more favorable exchange rates. The manufacturing industry employs about 14 million people, or about 25% of its independent population. Predominantly new and latest industries are developing, based on advanced technologies: the production of communications and information technology, new materials, and biotechnology. The country ranks first in the world in the production of ships (52% of the world volume), cars (about 30%), tractors, metalworking equipment, consumer electronics, robots, fish catch. The share of Japan in the world production of color TVs is more than 60%, steel - 14.3%, artificial fibers - 12.3%. More than 30% of food products that meet demand are imported by the country. Widely developed financial and trade infrastructure, foreign investment; the marine fleet in terms of tonnage ranks 2nd in the world. Japan's gold and foreign exchange reserves, according to 1998 data, amount to 228 billion dollars. Japan is poor in energy resources. Of practical importance are only insignificant reserves of coal, copper and lead-zinc ores. The Japanese energy sector is more than 80% dependent on energy imports (oil, gas, coal, uranium, etc.). Oil accounts for more than 1/2 of the energy balance, but the importance of hydro and nuclear energy is growing.

Now, thanks to new technologies, the use of ocean resources is becoming profitable for Japan (the extraction of manganese nodules from the ocean floor, the extraction of uranium from sea water, etc.)

Japan trades with the whole world. The characteristic features of the economy are the priority of science-intensive industries, foreign economic expansion. The largest volume of the country's foreign trade operations falls on the United States (more than 26% of the trade turnover). Other trading partners: countries of Southeast Asia (28%), the EU (about 14%), China (more than 6%) - over 50 billion dollars.

Recently, Tokyo has shown interest in accessing the energy resources market of the states of Central Asia, the countries of the Near Abroad, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation.

Japan actively participates in international economic organizations: the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (since 1961), the Asian Development Bank (Japan is the largest shareholder), the African Development Bank.

Organizations of private entrepreneurs play a significant role in the internal life of Japan.

Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), uniting almost all the main groups of the Japanese business world (it includes about 80 leading representatives of financial and industrial associations on a personal basis and about 940 companies and 120 financial and industrial associations on a collective basis).

Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nissho), which includes 1.2 million member firms - mostly small and medium, united in 489 local chambers of commerce and industry.

Federation of Enterprise Organizations (Nikkeiren), dealing mainly with the relationship between labor and capital (unites 47 regional and 55 industry organizations).

Association of Economic Associates (Keizai Doyukai), which includes 1000 influential businessmen on an individual basis.

Industry. During the period of high economic growth rates in the 1960s, the Japanese energy sector focused on the predominant consumption of imported fuel, mainly oil and oil products. The fuel crisis of the mid-1970s led to the need for major shifts in the energy balance towards increasing the share of other energy sources. However, oil and oil products still account for more than half of its revenues, and almost all liquid fuel is imported (in 1994, oil imports amounted to 232 million tons, domestic production - 0.7 million tons). The share of coal in the energy balance is gradually decreasing, which is currently 19%, also mainly imported (import - 115 million tons, own production - 7 million tons). Approximately 10% of the energy consumed is accounted for by natural gas, mainly imported in liquefied form, about 9.5% is provided by hydropower, more than 9% by nuclear energy; the share of the last 3 types, as well as other energy sources, is gradually increasing.

Electricity generation in 1994 amounted to 964 billion kWh, of which more than 60% came from thermal power plants, mostly located in large industrial areas. The share of thermal power plants in electricity generation is declining, mainly due to the development of nuclear power and, to some extent, hydropower. As of 1995, Japan operated 43 nuclear power units with a capacity of 35,000 kWh. Nuclear power plants are usually located in remote peripheral areas of large industrial centers. They account for about 27% of all generated electricity. Japanese HPPs built on turbulent mountain rivers have a small unit capacity and are located in cascades. The mountains of Central Honshu became the main area of ​​concentration, from where energy is transmitted to the large cities of the coast.

The Japanese leadership sees the prospects for the development of the industry in the further diversification of energy sources, the development of new areas of energy, and energy conservation programs are of the utmost importance.

The Japanese manufacturing industry has undergone dramatic changes in the post-war period of its development. First of all, the volume of production has grown (now Japan ranks 2nd after the USA). There was a restructuring of the structure of industry - the predominant development of light, especially textile, industry in the pre-war years was replaced by the leading importance of modern industries, primarily the machine-building complex. In terms of the quality parameters of its products, Japan has taken a leading position in the world. Although in a number of the most complex types of goods it is inferior to other countries, primarily the United States (aerospace engineering, complex radio electronics, equipment for nuclear power, etc.), the role of the largest diversified concerns (Mitsubishi, Fuji ”, “Sumito”), representing the interests of the leading financial and industrial group.

However, a large number of small firms, controlled by large companies and quite organically integrated into the social structure of production, have survived in Japanese industry. Small enterprises owned by such firms employ up to 1/2 of those working in industry and provide up to 1/3 of industrial output.

In the branches of the machine-building complex, almost 44% of all industrial products (by value) are currently produced, including 17% in the radio-electronic and electrical industries, 14.5% in transport engineering, and 10.5% in public engineering. Of the other industries, the most prominent is the metallurgical industry (ferrous non-ferrous metals) - 7%, chemical and food - 7.1% each.

According to some estimates, a little less than 80% of industrial products are produced in 13% of the country's territories within the Pacific industrial belt. In recent decades, the state has made attempts to disperse industry to other regions, but they are relatively ineffective.

The general trends in the work of raw materials, energy and labor-intensive industries of the first “wave” of post-war industrial development are stagnation and decline in production, underutilization of capacities, reduction in the number of jobs, scrapping of production units, and the transfer of production to other countries.

The only industry in this complex that mainly retains its high escort and production potential is ferrous metallurgy. Environmentally harmful parts of metallurgical production have been largely moved abroad, marginal production, cleaner and more economically viable, is concentrated in Japan.

At present, the volume of steel production is 100 million tons per year, pig iron - 75 million tons per year (1995). The export quota of the industry is estimated at 24%. The share of Japan in the world market of ferrous metals is approximately 23%. The total number of enterprises in the industry in Japan is in the hundreds, but the most important are the metallurgical plants located near Osaka and Tokyo, focused on large metal consumption centers. The oldest Japanese metallurgical region in the north of Kyushu (Kitakyushu), which originated on the basis of the use of local coals, retains its role.

Ferrous metallurgy of Japan works almost entirely on imported raw materials and fuel, so the vast majority of large plants are located in the areas of large ports.

Non-ferrous metallurgy, practically all the industries of which are material- and energy-intensive, as well as environmentally hazardous, turned out to be the most subject to reorganization. The primary smelting of non-ferrous metals has been greatly reduced. Terminal plants are located in almost all the leading centers of the industrial belt, some large enterprises are located in the ancient centers of non-ferrous metallurgy that arose on the basis of the processing of local ores - Niihama (on Shikoku), Hitachi and Ashio (in the northern part of Honshu) and Yamagachi.

Enterprises of the chemical and oil refining industry also gravitate towards the main centers of the Pacific industrial belt (Kawasoki, Chiba, Ichihara, Yokagamma). Other major centers of the chemical industry: Yokkaichi (in the Nagoya region), Ube and Tokuyama (in the south of Honshu), Nobeoka (in Kyushu). Modern chemical production in Japan focuses mainly on petrochemicals. The country has developed the production of synthetic rubber, chemical fibers, and plastics. In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to "fine chemistry" and biochemistry.

mechanical engineering Japan is a rather motley structural formation, which retains a large role in the modernization of industries of mass export-oriented production (shipbuilding, automotive, some types of general engineering) and actively developing new science-intensive industries (aerospace, instrument making, etc.) Main centers: Tokyo, Kadoma, Hadokate, Hiroshima, Kure, Fuchu, Yokoduka, etc.

Shipbuilding, specializing in the construction of large-capacity tankers and bulk carriers, experienced a deep crisis in the mid-70s due to a reduction in orders. The revival of the industry began in the late 80s (1995 - 44% of the global construction volume). Shipbuilding enterprises are located throughout the country. The main centers of shipbuilding are large port cities: Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, as well as Maidzura, Yokosuki, Sasebo.

Developed in Japan public engineering, aimed both at export and at providing machinery and equipment for its own economy. The main enterprises of the industry are concentrated within the Pacific industrial belt, but some of its areas with a certain specialization (for example, the Tokyo region - the production of the most complex types of equipment, Osaka - the predominance of factories for the production of heavy and metal-intensive equipment, etc.)

Placement of enterprises radio electronic and electrical industry focused on the largest cities of the Pacific coast. The most important factor was the focus on the scientific and technical potential of large cities. Leading enterprises of the industry are concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Fukooka, Hitachi and other cities.

Enterprises of other industrial sectors are distributed relatively evenly throughout Japan, oriented both to local and imported raw materials. They mainly serve the domestic market, and a certain part of the production has a traditionally national character.

Agriculture. About 19 million Japanese live in rural areas, which is more than 15% of the country's population, however, there are only 4.1 million people for whom agricultural labor is the main source of income, or about 6.5% of the total number of employees. Agriculture generates about 2% of GDP. The number of employees and the share of the industry in GDP are constantly declining.

Cultivated land accounts for about 14% of the country. Japanese agriculture is characterized by a system of small farm-type land use, with almost 70% of farms having at their disposal no more than 1 hectare of land each small peasant farm. The overwhelming majority of farms are small-scale, 3/4 of them receive their main income from non-agricultural activities. The exceptions are cooperatives and agricultural firms, most of which work in suburban animal husbandry.

Japanese agriculture has a pronounced food orientation, providing 100% of rice consumption and 65-95% of vegetables, meat and dairy products in the country. On the contrary, the vast majority of fodder and especially industrial crops are imported from abroad. The commodity structure determines the peculiarities of the location of agriculture, which is characterized, firstly, by the concentration of large agglomerations in suburban areas, and secondly, by the presence of traditional peripheral agricultural areas specialized in one or another type of product.

The former are characterized by the distribution of poultry and pig farms and vegetable gardens, they are located on all major plains of Japan. Among the latter, the largest rice growing area on the Echigo Plain in northwestern Honshu, as well as along its northern coast, areas of dairy and meat pastoral cattle breeding in Hokkaido, subtropical agriculture in Kyushu and Shikokku, sericulture in the inner valleys of Central Honshu, and some other technical and fodder crops are grown in the northwest of. Hokkaido, cereals - on the southern coast of all the islands.

Of great importance in the life of the Japanese is the consumption of fish and other seafood. Sea fishing currently produces 6-7 million tons of seafood per year - the country is in fourth place in the world in terms of seafood catches. Japan has a large fishing fleet (more than 400,000 vessels with a total tonnage of 2.7 million tons registered), which fishes in all areas of the oceans. Up to 1/3 of the catch is provided by coastal waters, mainly around Hokkaido and Northern Honshu. Quite a significant amount of fish and shellfish is produced by their breeding in marine coastal waters (lagoons), as well as in freshwater reservoirs.

External Relations

In recent years, the Japanese leadership has purposefully pursued a policy course to strengthen the country's political role in the world community. Great importance is attached to the revitalization of activities within the framework of the UN (it has been a member since 1956), leading international organizations (the Colombo Plan since 1954, the OECD since 1964, etc.), participation in the settlement of regional conflicts. In accordance with the law adopted in 1992 to assist UN peacekeeping efforts, Japanese military personnel were sent outside the country for the first time after World War II. They have been involved four times in non-military aspects of UN peacekeeping operations (Cambodia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Golan Heights).

The alliance with the United States remains at the core of Japan's foreign policy. At the same time, it maintains active ties with Western Europe. Tokyo's participation in the annual meetings of the leaders of the leading economically developed countries is becoming more significant.

Japan attaches great importance to the development of relations with neighboring Asian countries, especially with the ASEAN member states, with which it seeks to strengthen both economic and political ties. Japan is a dialogue partner. In the structure of Japan's foreign policy priorities, serious attention is paid to relations with China. In October 1992, the first ever visit of a Japanese emperor to China took place.

Japan takes an active part in the processes of economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region and the activities of APEC. Recently, there has been a tendency for Tokyo to join multilateral contacts on security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, in particular within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Forum (ATF).

Soviet-Japanese relations developed unevenly after World War II. For a number of reasons, the USSR did not sign the San Francisco Peace Treaty, and relations between the two countries were restored only in October 1956 with the signing of the Joint Declaration of the USSR and Japan. Subsequently, a trade agreement was concluded, as well as a number of agreements on cooperation in practical areas. At the same time, Tokyo for a long time adhered to the so-called principle of "non-separation of politics and economics", according to which the development of economic cooperation was made dependent on progress in solving the "territorial problem" associated with Japan's claims to the islands of the southern part of the Kuril chain.

After the collapse of the USSR, Russia, as a successor state, inherited both the accumulated positive and the negative of bilateral relations. The principle of "non-separation of politics and economics" by Japan was revised and transformed into a more rational and realistic principle of "balanced, multi-layer expansion of relations."

In October 1993, the President of Russia made his first official visit to Japan, which resulted in the signing of the Tokyo Declaration on Russian-Japanese Relations, the Declaration on the Prospects for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Relations, as well as a number of agreements and other joint documents, including including on cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, on the prevention of incidents at sea.

An agreement was reached to continue negotiations with a view to concluding a peace treaty and resolving the issue of ownership of the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai.

An important political impetus to the development of relations between the two countries was given by the recent meetings of the top leaders of the Russian Federation and Japan, including the informal Russian-Japanese summit meetings in Krasnoyarsk in November 1997 and Cavan (Japan) in April 1998. The leaders of the two countries approved new principles of relations: mutual benefit, close cooperation, trust and long-term perspective.

In November 1998, for the first time in the past 25 years, an official visit to Russia by the Prime Minister of Japan took place. As a result of the Russian-Japanese negotiations, the Moscow Declaration "on the establishment of a constructive partnership between the Russian Federation and Japan" was signed, which determined the direction of development of relations and cooperation between the two countries in the field of politics, economics, regional and international security, science and technology, cultural and humanitarian spheres with perspective for the 21st century. The determination was reaffirmed to make every effort to conclude a peace treaty by the year 2000. In parallel with the work on the issue of border demarcation, it is planned to determine the types of possible joint activities on the 4 islands, without prejudice to the legal positions of both parties.

Trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is expanding. The trade turnover with Russia is about 6 billion dollars. In 1994, an agreement was reached on the establishment of a bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Issues. In February 1998, an “Agreement between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of Japan on certain issues of cooperation in the field of harvesting marine living resources” was concluded, based on the principles of trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the South Kuriles. The Japanese government supports political and economic reforms in Russia and provides technical and financial assistance to the Russian Federation. The "Agreement on the promotion and protection of investments" was signed. But at present there are disagreements with Russia on the issue of ownership of the Kuril Islands.

Japan also has diplomatic relations with the countries of Southeast Asia.

Transport. In the post-war period, road transport quickly moved into first place in terms of freight and passenger traffic in Japan (52% and 60%, respectively). The length of highways is about 1.2 million km, of which 5 thousand km are expressways. The rest is mostly accounted for by coastal shipping, the share of which is gradually decreasing. The importance of rail transport is declining even faster, especially after its privatization in the mid-1980s. The length of the railway is about 30 thousand km. Air traffic volumes are growing, but their share is still small. Japan ranks second in the world in terms of merchant fleet tonnage (nearly 87 million reg. tons in 1996), but 73% of this tonnage goes under flags of convenience. The size of the car park is 43 million cars and 22 million trucks and buses (1995, the second largest in the world).

Since the mid-1970s, the main direction in the development of the technical base of transport has been the qualitative improvement of the transport infrastructure. Japan has created a dense network of highways, the main element of which was expressways connecting all cities with a population of more than 500,000 people. A system of railway lines has been built with an average train speed of over 200 km/h. The country has several dozen large seaports (the largest is Tiba), a number of airports capable of receiving large airliners. In the 80s, all four main Japanese islands were connected by continuous transport routes (through a system of tunnels and bridges).

The many times increased volumes and intensity of transportation in Japan, especially in the zone of the main transport axis of the country, passing through the Pacific industrial belt, required an increase in the reliability and security of the communications system. Its improvement is achieved through the widespread introduction of electronic computing and information technology both in the transport management systems and in the vehicles themselves.

Foreign economic relations

Japan is one of the world's largest trading powers. Its high dependence on foreign economic relations is determined primarily by the need to import the predominant part of the consumed industrial raw materials, fuel, and also a fairly large amount of food. The share of imported oil, iron ore, bauxite, natural rubber, cotton, wool, corn and some other goods reaches almost 100% of their consumption in Japan, wheat and legumes - 90%, natural gas, timber, salt - 70-80%, etc. d.

Exports "tie" Japan to foreign markets to a lesser extent. The export quota of the Japanese economy as a whole is not very large - less than 10%, which is higher than in the US, but lower than in some developed Western European countries. At the same time, for some types of Japanese goods, the share of exports in total production is high: for watches, cameras, video recorders - 80-90%, ships and computers - 70, cars and motorcycles - 50-60, machine tools - 40%, etc. d.

The commodity structure of Japan's foreign trade changed significantly after the Second World War, reflecting shifts in the sectoral structure of the economy and the country's position in the world division of labor. At the initial stage of post-war development, Japan entered the world market with primary processing products of cheap imported raw materials and relatively uncomplicated finished industrial products, then gradually turned into a "world workshop" focused on mass production and export of industrial products of medium complexity. The transition to an intensive development path has led to the fact that the share of high-tech expensive products in Japan's exports has rapidly increased and continues to grow. At present, it consists of 75% of engineering products, including about 1/4 of radio-electronic and electrical goods, 18% of cars, 15% of modern metalworking equipment.

The leading share of raw materials and fuel remains in Japanese imports. The main import positions are still oil and oil products, timber, coal, gas, ores and primary metals. However, the share of the raw materials group is steadily declining, and the share of finished industrial products is increasing, which today account for a little less than half of the total value of imports. The structure of imported finished products is changing. Pain - in the first post-war years, these were mainly machines and equipment that Japan was not able to produce on its own, then subsequently / the importance of importing products from industries that gradually lost their role in Japan increased - first light, then basic energy and material-intensive, environmentally hazardous. In recent years, the volume of imports of modern goods (household appliances, tape recorders, televisions) has been growing rapidly, mainly from the newly industrialized countries of Asia and China. Their release is usually established at enterprises owned by Japanese companies; at a relatively low price due to cheap labor, these goods are of good quality.

The volume of Japan's foreign trade is constantly growing, and for many years the country's trade balance has been reduced to a significant positive balance. So, in 1995, the volume of exports amounted to 443 billion dollars, imports - 336 billion dollars.

More than 50% of Japan's foreign trade turnover is accounted for by developed countries, among individual foreign trade partners the United States stands out, whose share in Japanese exports is approximately 30%, in imports - 25%. By a wide margin, China, South Korea, Germany, and Australia follow the USA (they each account for 4-8% of foreign trade turnover). In recent years, the volume of trade with the countries of Southeast Asia has been constantly increasing, and the most important supplier of oil, the Middle East region, continues to retain its importance for Japan.

The developed countries of the West are the most important sales area for Japanese export products and at the same time supply Japan with a diverse range of goods - from raw materials to the most complex machinery and equipment. Apart from Australia and Canada, almost all of them have a negative trade balance with Japan. This seriously exacerbates the trade contradictions between Western partners and Japan, which is pursuing a protectionist policy towards its own market, and has recently caused certain concessions on its part.

Among the developing countries, in terms of the scale and intensity of economic ties with Japan, the region of Southeast Asia stands out, which accounts for 31% of the total Japanese foreign trade turnover (1994). Japan has an active trade balance with the countries of Southeast Asia - its exports exceed imports by more than 2 times. The structure of Japanese imports from these countries is diverse, among the imported goods are oil, ores, and timber. consumer goods. Japan considers Southeast Asia as the most important sphere of "vital interests", therefore, economic relations with the countries of this region are of a diverse nature, not limited to trade operations - large projects are being carried out, significant "development assistance" is provided through the state line, etc. d.

After the maximum reached in 1982, the scale of Japanese-Russian trade was reduced. Russia's share in Japan's foreign trade turnover, which in the mid-1980s was about 1.5%, decreased in 1992 to 0.3%, and only in 1991-1992. the volume of trade between the two countries decreased by 30%. By the mid-1990s, Russia's share in the Japanese foreign trade turnover had increased to 0.7%, and this was due exclusively to the growth of imports to Japan. In the 1990s, Japanese exports to Russia steadily declined.

In 1994, it was estimated at about $1.1 billion, which was less than 30% of the 1989 level. Japan's main export commodities for Russia are construction and mining equipment, as well as various electronic equipment. Due to delays in payments by the Russian side (at the end of 1992, their amount was 1.5 billion dollars), many Japanese trading companies refrain from entering into transactions with Russian partners. The volume of imports of Russian goods to Japan in 1994 was estimated at 3.3 billion dollars. Japan buys metals (mainly ferrous and aluminum), coal, oil, gold, and timber from Russia.

The main reason for the curtailment of Japanese-Russian trade operations, as well as other areas of foreign economic relations, is the lack of political stability and the inconsistency of economic reforms in Russia. The stumbling block in the development of relations, including the economic sphere, remains the unresolved territorial problem associated with Japanese demands for the return of the southern part of the Kuril ridge, called in Japan the "Northern Territories", as well as the absence of a peace treaty between the two countries.

Since the beginning of the 1970s, when Japan's balance of payments acquired a large surplus, and foreign exchange reserves gained the necessary "critical mass", the country has been moving into the ranks of notable exporters of capital. In 1986, Japan ranked first in the world in this indicator. The total size of foreign financial assets of Japan in 1995 exceeded the mark of 2.4 trillion. dollars, i.e., exceeded the figures of all other countries. The increased financial capabilities of Japan are confirmed by the fact that more than a third of international financial transactions are now carried out by Japanese private banks, and seven Japanese banks are among the ten largest private banks in the world.

Japanese direct private investment is growing rapidly. In 1995, they reached $55 billion, and Japan's annual repatriated income from foreign investment in the early 1990s was approximately equal to 90% of state corporate tax revenues. The main incentives for foreign direct investment for Japanese companies are the course towards protecting and consolidating the markets for raw materials and the sale of finished products, as well as reducing production costs when organizing enterprises abroad, primarily due to cheaper labor.

The predominant form in which private Japanese investments are made is the acquisition of shares (almost 60%) and bonds (about 40%) of foreign firms, while only about 3% of the amounts are allocated for the organization and expansion of branches and branches of Japanese companies. Thus, unlike American transnational corporations, which strive for 100% control over foreign enterprises and the creation of their branches abroad, Japanese companies more often use the form of joint ventures, seeking to expand control over business abroad and increase the ability to dispose of foreign assets. At the same time, in a number of industries, especially modern ones, the share of foreign enterprises is growing, where all the capital belongs to Japanese companies (for example, in enterprises of precision electrical engineering and in the production of electronic equipment - up to 40%).

In the 1970s, almost 2/3 of direct private foreign investments of Japanese companies were in developing countries, especially in the countries of the Far East and Southeast Asia, where production was launched at relatively lower costs than in Japan. From the beginning of the 1980s, the factor of protection of sales markets for finished products of foreign production began to dominate in the regional distribution, and the predominant part of investments was concentrated in the USA and European countries (about 60%). .Almost half of foreign direct investment is in trade, financial and credit, insurance and other non-material sectors, about a third - in the manufacturing industry, a fifth - in the mining industry.

For a long time, the main actors in Japanese international business were "universal trading companies", representing the interests of the largest Japanese diversified concerns and smaller companies, usually united as part of one of the Japanese financial and industrial groups. "Universal Trading Companies" rely primarily on their global distribution network for the sale of standardized mass-market products made in Japan. The scale of their activities is evidenced by the fact that, according to the results of international ratings, the largest companies of this kind (Mitsui Bussan, Itotyu, Marubeni, etc.) consistently rank among the world leaders in terms of sales. However, now Japanese industrial companies are entering the foreign market more and more confidently, taking a step from a predominantly sales network to new forms of foreign expansion, primarily through the organization of highly efficient production in other countries.

The beginning of the 1990s was marked by a change in the views of the Japanese leadership on the country's place in the world economy. It is expressed in the desire to move away from the functions of a "processing center" and in the next 10-15 years "to harmoniously fit into world economic relations on the basis of the all-round development of the horizontal division of labor." In practical terms, this means an active impact on the state of the economy of foreign countries, as well as on the state of international economic relations in order to ensure stable conditions for the functioning of the national economy.

Characteristically, this course extends both to developing countries, which are traditional objects of Japanese state and private enterprise economic support programs (such as "Official Development Assistance" or programs of scientific and technical cooperation with developing countries), and to developed countries, which have become the largest markets. sales of Japanese products (in the form, for example, of the Japanese government-sanctioned purchase of US government bonds by Japanese banks, which alleviates the problems of the US budget deficit). An important direction in the formation of a favorable economic environment in the world economy is also the expansion of Japan's participation in various interstate economic organizations, such as the WTO, the IMF, the OECD, as well as its broader steps to increase its own international prestige, including activities to increase its influence in the UN. It can be expected that in the course of the increased internationalization of the economy and the rapid development of international inter-firm cooperation, Japan's involvement in the world economy in the 21st century will increase significantly.

Internal differences

The peculiar natural-geographical and historical conditions of development led to the formation of a complex territorial structure of Japan, to the emergence of significant differences between its regions.

First of all, we note the traditional division of Japan into Western and Eastern, the conditional border between which runs in Central Honshu, approximately along the line connecting the Ise and Wakasa bays. This division is based mainly on historical and cultural features, however, a certain economic independence of these macroregions also objectively develops. It is connected with the fact that Osaka, the center of Western Japan, "intercepts" part of the functions of the nationwide center of Tokyo.

On the territory of Japan, morphologically heterogeneous parts stand out sharply. This is a developed Pacific industrial belt, located on the largest lowlands of Honshu and Northern Kyushu, and peripheral, relatively poorly developed areas occupying the west coast and northeast of Honshu, Hokkaido and southern Japan - Shikoku, southern Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands.

Japan's current grid of economic regions largely reflects these disparities. The most common is the concept of distinguishing ten economic regions - Kanto, Kinki, Tokai, Kyushu, Chugoku, Hokuriku, Tohoku, Hokkaido, Shikoku and Okinawa. The first four traditionally belong to areas of a high level of development, the next three - to an average level, and the rest - to underdeveloped areas. The allocation of regions is carried out along the boundaries of the main administrative units of Japan - prefectures (there are 47 prefectures, including the governorate of Hokkaido).

Kanto - the leading economic region, occupying the country's largest lowland, where less than 10% of Japan's territory is home to more than 30% of its population and produces more than 35% of national income. The socio-economic image of the district is determined primarily by the presence of the capital Tokyo and the largest urban agglomeration Keihin, which has formed around it, which has a powerful production, management, research, and cultural potential. Almost all sectors of the economy are developed in Kanto, but it is distinguished by an increased concentration of mechanical engineering, especially science-intensive (radioelectronic, instrumentation, aerospace), as well as industries that focus on the large market of the capital region (printing, light industry). Agriculture of the region, occupying an insignificant place in the structure of its economy, provides Kanto with a leading position in Japan in food production. It is specialized mainly in suburban forms. Great is the importance of Kanto as the focus of the entire transport system of Japan, where major highways converge, connecting the capital with coastal and inland regions.

Tokyo is the national center of economic, political and cultural life. 60% of the head offices of leading Japanese companies are located here, Tokyo banks control a third of all deposits and 40% of loans, Tokyo publishers publish more than 80% of Japanese books. A significant number of universities and research institutes are located in the capital. At the same time, Tokyo continues to be the largest industrial center. Gradually, the importance of managerial and trade and distribution functions in the capital is increasing, and, on the contrary, the role of production is decreasing, primarily due to the withdrawal of enterprises of material-intensive and environmentally hazardous industries from the city. Other large cities of the Tokyo agglomeration - Yokohama, Kawasaki, Chiba, Ichihara - are distinguished by a high concentration of heavy industry.

The second largest economic region in Japan is kinky, combining the features of the historical and cultural core of "old" Japan and a large industrial region. It concentrates enterprises of both traditional (textile, woodworking, shipbuilding) and the newest industries (radioelectronic, modern chemistry, etc.). Against the background of other developed regions, Kinki is distinguished by an increased share of metal-intensive general engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Osaka, the second economic and cultural center of the country after Tokyo, plays the most important role in the region, around which the powerful urban agglomeration of Hanshin has developed. The agglomeration includes several more notable industrial cities - Kobe, Amagasaki, Himeji, Sakai. The city of Kyoto is peculiar, the only one of the Japanese cities-"millionaires", located outside the sea coast. For a long time, the residence of the Japanese emperors, the political, cultural and religious center of the country, it attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims. The industry of Kyoto is characterized by a diverse structure with a predominance of non-material-intensive industries using skilled labor (traditional light, woodworking, modern electronic, precision engineering).

Area Tokay, located on the Pacific coast between Kanto and Kinki, it occupies the third position in terms of economic importance. The branches of industrial specialization of the region include transport engineering, petrochemistry, textile and pulp and paper. The industrial zone is located around Ise Bay, on the coast of which are the center of the district - Nagoya and other industrial cities. For a long time, Tokai remained a predominantly agricultural area, textile and woodworking were widespread among industrial enterprises. In the prewar years in Nagoya and some other cities, military factories were built, mainly aviation, on the basis of which transport engineering developed after the war. Among the cities of the region, there are several centers of national importance, highly specialized in certain types of industrial production - Yokkaichi (oil refining and petrochemistry), Toyota (automotive industry). Tokaj retains its importance as an important agricultural area, distinguished by the production of some specific crops, in particular tea and citrus fruits.

Kyushu characterized by uneven development of the northern and southern parts of the region. Northern Kyushu is the oldest Japanese industrial region, where the structure of production is still dominated by ferrous metallurgy, heavy industrial engineering, as well as some other "basic" industries - oil refining, cement production. Particularly distinguished in this respect is the city of Kitakyushu, where the largest metallurgical plants are located. A major center of shipbuilding is Nagasaki with Japan's largest shipbuilding plant. At the same time, Northern Kyushu remains an important agricultural region (in particular, the country's second most important rice-growing region). In the south, which is still characterized by a certain isolation and traditionalism, the basis of the economy is agriculture, local industry, and recreational functions. In order to modernize the economic structure of Kyushu, regional programs of recent years are aimed at developing the most advanced industries (radioelectronics, biotechnology, fine chemistry) in several actively created technopolises. The functions of the administrative center of the district are concentrated in its largest city - Fukuoka.

Area Chugoku It occupies the southwestern part of Honshu and is divided by a mountain range in the direction from northeast to southwest into two regions, which have the historical names of San'yo and San'in. More developed has always been the southern one, Sanyo, which occupies the coast of the Inland Sea. Due to the favorable economic and geographical position, many industrial enterprises were built there after the Second World War. At present, Chugoku stands out for the country's highest share of production of material and energy-intensive industries - ferrous metallurgy, oil refining, chemical industry, as well as developed general, shipbuilding and automotive industries. A characteristic feature is the absence of a clearly defined center in the area, as well as a certain specialization of large industrial centers: mechanical engineering is predominantly developed in Hiroshima, oil refining and chemistry in Kurashikk, and ferrous metallurgy in Fukuyama. In the south of Chugoku (in Ube, Tokuyama, and others), one of the most powerful chemical industry complexes in Japan was formed. The Sanyo area is an important tourism area. San'in, which faces the Sea of ​​Japan, is still relatively isolated, sparsely populated, and less developed.

Hokuriku occupies the central part of the western coast of Honshu and some inland mountainous areas of this island. Unfavorable natural conditions (marshy coastal lowlands, lack of convenient bays for port construction, etc.) led to a much less intensive development of the region compared to the eastern part of Honshu. The share of industry in the structure of the economy of Hokuriku is noticeably lower than the national average, the most developed are general and electrical engineering, metalworking, traditional woodworking and the textile industry. A number of nuclear power plants were built in the south of the region, transmitting energy to the Kinki region, in the mountains - cascades of hydroelectric power plants, which also transmit energy to the central regions of the country. Hokuriku is famous for its important rice producing area (Echigo Plain) as well as Japan's most significant oil and gas fields. The most important city of the district is Niigata.

Area Tohoku, occupying the northeast of Honshu, in the national division of labor stands out for agriculture, fishing, logging, mining and relatively underdeveloped industry, aimed mainly at processing local resources. The population of the district is relatively small and largely concentrated in the interior. Tohoku is regarded as an important growth area for Japan, with its main city Sendai already one of the fastest growing major cities in the country.

hokkaido, which officially became part of Japan only in 1868, is the only area in the country that was developed in a “planned” way, on the basis of organized colonization. The structure of the economy resembles Tohoku, with forestry and agriculture, fishing, woodworking, pulp and paper, and mining being even more prominent. Deprived of the largest industrial enterprises, but performing important administrative functions, the main city of the district, Sapporo, is developing intensively.

Shikoku - mountainous, sparsely populated area. In economic terms, the northern part of the island is more developed, where enterprises of basic industries are located in several industrial cities. However, in general, the industrial appearance of the region is formed by the food, pulp and paper and textile industries. Subtropical agriculture and mountain animal husbandry are developed. The most important cities are the prefectural centers of Matsuyama and Takamatsu.

Okinawa - a prefecture located in the Ryukyu Islands is only loosely classified as a district. It became part of Japan again in 1972 after the US occupation, but even now 12% of its territory is under American military bases. Infrastructural facilities for servicing bases, as well as tropical farming, are developed.

culture

The culture of Japan is unusual for a European, and the customs and patterns of life are original and interesting.

In the last 2-3 decades, the outlines of most cities in Japan have been changing - they are being reconstructed. This is necessary for a more comfortable life for people. Due to the fact that high-rise and high-rise buildings are replacing low-rise buildings, many Japanese cities have acquired the appearance of a modern European city. As a rule, business districts in the center are built up with buildings made of glass and concrete. At the same time, quarters of one- and two-story houses of individual buildings were preserved; concrete or wood; covered mainly with tiles, they combine elements of traditional and modern architecture. In the lower floors there are shops, hairdressers, eateries. In such quarters, the passages are very narrow, without sidewalks. In front of the houses, where space allows, there are small gardens, sometimes only 2-3 trees.

In a traditional Japanese house, part of the walls are sliding - shoza, which also serve as windows. The internal layout is created using fusuma partitions. The floor is covered with tatami (thick mats of rice straw for flooring, sheathed on top with dried greenish grass “igueya” (reed family), and along the edges with a strip of dense fabric. Tatami dimensions are 1.8 m 2). There is very little furniture. The central detail of the interior is a tokonomo-decorative niche in which a scroll of painting or a vase of flowers are placed. They sit on the floor on flat cushions. They dine at a low table. At night, thick cotton mattresses are spread here, on which they sleep. Pillows - small, elongated, usually hard. During the day, all this is cleaned in wall cabinets. In modern apartments and mansions, 1 room is usually decorated in a traditional style, the rest are furnished in European style.

At the entrance to the house, they take off their shoes, walk on the tatami in socks, on the plank floor - in slippers. Heating - either central, or by means of portable stoves - kotatsi and hibati. It is very cold in Japanese traditional houses in winter, as light walls do not keep heat, but in summer it is fresh and cool.

Cloth. Nowadays, the Japanese wear, as a rule, European clothes. Only on solemn occasions, on holidays, during rest and at home, do they put on a kimono or yukata (tied with an obi belt). National clothes are not well suited for work at modern enterprises and travel in transport. However, it is convenient during housework. Kimono tied with an obi (kimono belt, different in shape and color for women and men), keeps warm and provides good ventilation in sweltering weather, this is the most suitable clothing for the Japanese climate. Haori is often worn over a kimono - the same cut as a kimono, but much shorter and with floors that do not converge on the chest. Tabi socks and zori or geta shoes are put on the feet (1st - sandals without a heel with a thickening on the heel are held on the legs by a strap passing between the thumb and second toes, different for the right and left legs. 2nd - wooden sandals in the shape of a bench, the same for both legs.The 1st type is made of leather, straw, synthetic materials).

Food. The lifestyle of the Japanese is completely Europeanized, but the national way of life has been preserved in domestic life. The traditions in the kitchen are especially strong. The basis of Japanese food continues to be rice, cooked without salt. It is served with various seasonings from vegetables, fish and meat.

Japanese culture has much in common with Chinese culture, even the characters of the Japanese syllabary alphabet originated from Chinese prototypes. But, if, for example, in Chinese cuisine it is important that the person sitting at the table eats some delicious dish, completely without guessing what it is made of, then in Japanese cuisine it is the other way around. The product on the table should be as close as possible to its living source, which floats in the sea or grows in the garden. The national ritual tyanoy - “tea ceremony”, which has its own rules and paraphernalia, is ubiquitous, numbering 5 centuries and being a symbol of courtesy and hospitality.

Rice is included as a component in many dishes and confectionery. Recently, the consumption of bread made from wheat flour and various types of noodles - milk yield, soba, etc. has increased. The Japanese diet contains a lot of fish and seafood. Fresh raw fish in the form of sushi and sashli is widely eaten. The Japanese also love vegetables - fresh, salted or pickled. In addition to the well-known, specific Japanese vegetables are also used: edible konnyaku root, lotus rhizome, young bamboo shoots, leaf chrysanthemum. Of the fruits, tangerines, persimmons, bananas, apples, and melons are especially popular.

For the preparation of meat dishes (sukiyaki or steak) are very expensive meats. Poultry meat makes up about 1/3 of the total Japanese meat diet (mainly chicken). As an example, soy sauces - shoyu and mishu are known. Popular national dishes include shots, tofu, tempura and others. Sake is the national alcoholic drink. But European cuisine has also become widespread.

Family. Official Japanese law legally completely equalizes the rights of women and men. But the actual traditions of woman's subordination are still quite strong. In today's Japanese family life, both Western and Eastern features can be found.

During the wedding, in most cases, a traditional ceremony is held in accordance with the national religion of Japan. During the funeral, Buddhist rituals are strictly observed. Japan attracts with a combination of a highly developed industry using the latest technology, with a strict, completely voluntary adherence to traditions in the family, in art, in lifestyle and everyday life.

Museums Japan, with the exception of a few modern galleries in large cities, are treasuries and are located in temples and shrines. The most famous museum of this kind is the Myohoima Shrine in Kyoto. There are numerous museums in Tokyo, including the largest art museum in the country - the National Museum, the Museum of Calligraphy, the National Museum of Western Art, the Museum of Japanese Folk Art, the Meiji Treasury Museum, the National Museum of Science. Among the historical and architectural sights of Japan can be noted in Tokyo - the Imperial Palace; many Buddhist temples, the main among which is the Rakanji temple; Tokyo TV tower with a height of 333 meters; zoo.

In Kobe - a large number of Christian churches and Buddhist temples, a magnificent art museum. In Kyoto (capital of Japan from 794 to 1868) - more than 2 thousand ancient temples and shrines; 24 museums; Nijo Castle; imperial palace; Palace of Catauro ancient imperial tombs; magnificent gardens and parks. In Nagoya, Nagoya Castle (1612); the two most important and oldest shrines of Shintoism are Atsuta and Isha.

Modern architecture is represented by magnificent sports facilities for the Olympic Games in Tokyo (Yoyogi complex, architect T. Keizo), Sapporo, Nagano.

In arts and crafts finishing of swords and daggers, saddles, harness, etc. reached a high level: ink painting; creation of dry landscapes from sand, pebbles and stones; manufacture of leather products; toys and fabrics; tea ceremonies stimulated the development of ceramics and the production of porcelain; lacquer crafts; silk embroidery; In Japan, various types of martial arts are widespread, in which sports competitions are organized (judo, kendo, etc.) (kendo is a type of fencing using bamboo sticks that arose in antiquity), sumo wrestling.

Japanese culture is widespread throughout the world. A striking example of this is martial arts and ikebana (the Japanese art of arranging bouquets).

Beliefs

Although the majority of the Japanese are spontaneous atheists, the observance of traditions and norms of behavior is in fact mandatory, and any deviation from it is indecent. The object of worship is Mount Fuji, located 90 km west of the capital. In the infrequent clear weather here, its regular cone, closer to the top covered with snow, is stunningly beautiful. The view of Mount Fuji is a favorite subject of Japanese artists. On the territory surrounding the mountain, a National Park was formed with numerous temples and shrines. An integral part of the country's culture are traditional Japanese gardens designed for contemplation. In each such garden, there are necessarily stones, a small lake and paths planned so that new landscapes open up at every turn. The most famous of these gardens is located in Kyoto, which for more than 1000 years was the capital of the country.

Every Japanese is instilled with a love of nature from childhood. This is reflected in the ancient religion of Shintoism and the Japanese variety of Buddhism (the worship of the spirits of trees, mountains, stones, rivers and other riches of nature).

The Japanese have a legend about the founding of Japan, associated with the sky goddess Amateratsu, whose descendant became the 1st Emperor of Japan in 660.

Very little is known about Japan so far. The remarkable masters of Japanese art culture, unfortunately, are not well known in our country. This country is quite deservedly proud of the magnificent artist Katsushika Hokusan (1760-1849), the 17th century poet Matsuo Basho, who owns high examples of the haiku genre. The founder of the modern literary language Ftabitei Shimei (XIX century), the finest lyric poet Issa Kabayashi (1763-1827), film director Akuro-Kurasawa. Prose writers Yasanuri Kawabati, Kobo Abe, Kenzaburo Oe and many others. The first anthology of Japanese poetry, the Man'yoshu, was compiled in 759. The physicists Nishijima and Yukawa are well known in the world of science.

The culture of Japan is very interesting and unusual, but little studied. It seems that more efforts should be made to study not only culture, but also Japan as a whole.

Bibliography

Big reference book: Geography. - M.: Drofa publishing house

Small encyclopedia of countries / Ed. Sirotenko N.G., Mendelev V.A. - M.: publishing house "Torsing", 2000.

Socio-economic geography of the foreign world / Ed. V.V. Volsky. - 1999.

Countries of the world. Handbook / Under the general editorship. Ivanova. - M .: publishing house "Republic", 1999.

Encyclopedic reference book "The whole world". - Minsk: Harvest publishing house, 1999.

Japan. Handbook / Under the general editorship. G.F. Kima, K.O. Sarkisova, A.I. Senatorov. - M.: publishing house "Republic", 1992.

by geography

Performed

10th grade student

Uchaikina Natalya

A short report about Japan will tell about eastern country rising sun. In this country, jewelry combines modernity and tradition. This is what attracts a large number of tourists to it.

Message about Japan briefly

The message about Japan should begin with the fact that this island state is the easternmost and is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, the Sea of ​​Japan and the South China Sea.

What part of the mainland is Japan in?

The island nation of Japan is located in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Sea of ​​Japan, South and North Korea, China and Russia. It covers an area in the north from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk to Taiwan and the East China Sea in the south. It consists of 6852 islands. The largest of them are Hokkaido, Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu. They make up about 97% of the entire area of ​​the state.

Relief of Japan

The island state is covered with highlands, medium-altitude and low mountains. They account for more than 75% of common territory countries. The lowlands are represented by separate sections that are located along the coasts. The largest lowland is Kanto, its area is 17,000 km².

Hokkaido is the main ridges of the country, which have been stretching since Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. They stretch along the country from northeast to southwest and from north to south. The highest point is Mount Asahi with a height of 2290 m.

The medium-altitude mountains are separated by depressions and valleys. Some are crowned active volcanoes. Most high volcano Japan - Fujiyama, located on the island of Honshu. The tops of most mountains are covered with snow. In the southwest of the country is the largest Kinki plain. But all the islands of Japan are predominantly mountainous. For example, lowlands and plateaus dominate the Ryukyu Islands.

Minerals of Japan

There are practically no minerals on the island state. Sulfur, coal, gold and silver, mercury, lead and zinc, copper and chromium, iron and manganese are mined here. Of course, these reserves are not enough for industrial needs, so most minerals are imported from foreign countries.

Climate of Japan

Japan belongs to the temperature zone, which has 4 seasons. Therefore, its climate is changed by low temperatures in the north and subtropical in the south. It also depends on seasonal winds, which blow in the direction from the continent in winter, and in summer in reverse direction.

There are 6 climatic zones:

• Hokkaido. Belongs to the zone with low temperatures. It is characterized by cold, long winters and cool summers.
• Japanese Sea. In this zone, the seasonal northeast wind brings heavy snow in winter. In summer, it is also not very warm here, but in rare cases, very high temperatures are observed in the Sea of ​​​​Japan zone due to the Phöhn phenomenon.
• Zone of the Central Hills. It is an island typical climate with a large temperature difference day and night, summer and winter.
• The Inland Sea zone is characterized by a temperate climate, as the mountains in the Shikoku and Chugoku regions trap the seasonal winds.
• In the Pacific Ocean, winters are quite cold, snowfalls are rare. Summer during the seasonal southeast wind is humid and hot.
• The zone of the southwestern islands has a subtropical climate - hot summers and warm winters. There is a lot of precipitation after typhoons and rains.

Major rivers and lakes in Japan

The largest rivers in Japan: on the island of Honshu - Shinano, Kitakami, Tone, Ten-ri, Mogami; on the island of Hokkaido - Teshio, Isikiri, Tokachi; on the island of Shikoku - Yoshino.

The largest lake in the state is Biwa.

Capital of Japan and major cities

The capital is Tokyo.

The largest cities are Kyoto, Yokohama, Nagasaki, Nagano, Sapporo, Hiroshima.

The population of the country is more than 127 million people

Natural areas of Japan

There are several natural areas in Japan:

• In the north of the state - taiga
• mixed forests
• broad-leaved forests
• subtropical forests
• Tropical rainforests
• Altitude zones

Fauna and flora of Japan

The fauna of Japan has:

• about 270 species of mammals:
• about 800 species of birds
• 110 species of reptiles.
• more than 600 species of fish in the seas
• more than 1000 types of molluscs.

The fauna is dominated by reptiles.
The flora includes 700 species of trees and shrubs, about 3000 species of herbs. On about. Hokkaido is dominated by coniferous forests (spruce, fir). IN southern regions(oak, beech, maple, walnut and other trees).

Japanese industry

The coal mining industry is of the greatest importance. Natural gas production started.

In terms of aluminum production, Japan ranks second in the world. Mechanical engineering is one of the industries that is developing at a rapid pace. Significant development was given to instrumentation, the manufacture of precision instruments and mechanisms. A lot of household appliances are produced, which are used all over the world. In terms of shipbuilding and export of ships, Japan ranks first in the world.

Japan is one of the leading countries in the field of scientific research, such as high technology, biomedicine and robotics. Japan ranks first in the production and use of robots.

The island nation has many interesting places, temples, ancient castles. Places to visit - Museum of Calligraphy, National Museum, National Museum of Western Art, Meiji Shrine Treasury Museum, Museum of Japanese Folk Art, Nijo Castle, Katsura Palace. As well as many imperial tombs, Japanese gardens and shrines.

We hope that the report on Japan helped you learn more about this country and prepare for the lesson. And you can leave your story about Japan through the comment form.

Japan (Jap. 日本 Nihon, Nippon?), officially Nihon Koku, Nippon Koku (inf.) (Japanese 日本国?) is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Sea of ​​Japan, China, North and South Korea, Russia, covers an area from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south of the country.

Japan is located in the Japanese archipelago, which consists of 6852 islands. Four largest islands- Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku - make up 97% total area archipelago. Most of the islands are mountainous, many are volcanic. The highest point in Japan is Fujiyama volcano (3776 m). With a population of over 127 million, Japan ranks tenth in the world. Greater Tokyo, which includes the capital of Japan Tokyo and several nearby prefectures, with a population of more than 30 million people, is the largest urban agglomeration in the world.

As a great economic power, Japan ranks third in the world in terms of nominal GDP and fourth in terms of GDP calculated at purchasing power parity. Japan is the fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer.

Japan - developed country with a very high standard of living (tenth in the Human Development Index). Japan has one of the highest life expectancies, at 82.12 years in 2009, and one of the lowest infant mortality rates.

Japan is a member of the G8 and APEC, and is also regularly elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Although Japan has officially renounced its right to declare war, it has a large, modern military that is used in self-defense and in peacekeeping operations.

Japan is the only country in the world against which nuclear weapons were used.
//wikipedia

The Russian word "Japan" is an exonym; it presumably came to the Russian language from German language(from German Japan), although the vocals fit better with the French Japon.

The Japanese themselves refer to the country as "Nippon" or "Nihon", both written with the kanji 日本. The first option is often used as an official one, for example, on yens, postage stamps and in the names of many sporting events. "Nihon" is commonly used in everyday life. The Japanese call themselves Nihonjin (Jap. 日本人?), and their language - Nihongo (Jap. 日本語?). Official name countries - "Nihon koku" or "Nippon koku" (jap. 日本国?).

"Nihon" literally means "source / home of the Sun", and this name is often translated as "Land of the Rising Sun". This is how the Chinese called Japan in the correspondence of the emperor of Japan with the Chinese Sui dynasty, since Japan is located to the east of China. The name "Nihon" began to be actively used, starting around the Nara period. Prior to this, the country was called "Yamato" (Jap. 大和?), or in Chinese - Wa (Jap. 倭?), Wagoku (Jap. 倭国?)

Japan is located on a large stratovolcano archipelago located at Pacific coast Asia and part of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire. According to the system geographical coordinates, Japan lies 36° north of the equator and 138° east of the Greenwich meridian. The country is located northeast of China and Taiwan (separated from them East China Sea) and due east of Korea (separated by the Sea of ​​Japan). North of Japan is the Far East, a geographic region of Russia.

The largest islands of the archipelago (from north to south): Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. The country also includes 6,848 smaller islands, including Okinawa, some of which are inhabited and some are not. Japan occupies about 377.9 thousand km² (2006), of which 364.4 thousand km² is land, and 13.5 thousand km² is water space. Japan is larger than Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand and Great Britain, it is 1.7 times larger than Korea and 10 times larger than Taiwan.

The total length of the coastline is 19,240 km (2008), largest peninsulas: Kii and Oshima. southern islands The Ryukyu are surrounded by coral reefs.

Japan is covered with highlands and low and medium-altitude mountains, they make up over 75% of the country's territory. The lowlands are located in separate areas along the coasts of the country. The largest lowland is Kanto, covering about 17,000 km².

The main ranges of Hokkaido are a continuation of the chains of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. They stretch from north to south and from northeast to southwest. highest point Islands - Mount Asahi (2290 m), located in the area of ​​​​their intersection.

In the northern part of the island of Honshu there are three longitudinal chains of medium-altitude mountains, separated by valleys and basins. The axial position is occupied by the Ou ridge, to the east of it are the Kitakami and Abukuma ridges, and to the west - the Dewa and Echigo ridges; the central and western ranges are topped by volcanoes. In the middle part of the island, a fault zone called Fossa Magna (about 250 km long) crosses the island, above which a number of volcanoes rise, including the highest in Japan - Fujiyama (3776 m). In the central part of Honshu, the Japanese Alps are located - the Hida, Kiso and Akaishi ridges, the peaks of which most years are covered with snow. In the southwest, within the tectonic depression, there is the Kinki plain and Lake Biwa. Two strips of mountains - the northern (inner), stretching along the axis of the western part of Honshu, and the southern (outer) - on the Kii Peninsula, the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu, are separated by this tectonic depression, on the western extension of which the Inland Sea of ​​Japan is located.

The highest altitude of the island of Shikoku is Mount Ishizuchi (1981 m), the islands of Kyushu are the volcano Kuju (1788 m). The Ryukyu Islands are dominated by plateaus and low mountains.

In Japan, there are practically no minerals, their reserves according to 1976 data were: coal - 8630 million tons; iron ore - 228 million tons; sulfur — 67.6 million tons; manganese ores - 5.4 million tons; lead-zinc - 4.7 million tons; oil - 3.8 million tons; copper ores - 2.0 million tons; chromites - 1.0 million tons, as well as gold, silver and mercury

Japan is covered with a dense network of short deep rivers, mostly mountainous. Among them, the largest are Shinano, Tone, Kitakami and Ishikari. On the rivers of the Sea of ​​Japan basin, a winter-spring flood is noted, on the rivers of the Pacific Ocean basin - a summer one; floods occur periodically, especially as a result of the passage of typhoons. The waters of many rivers are used for irrigation. The lakes are numerous and diverse in origin: Lake Biwa, the largest in Japan (an area of ​​716 km²), is located in tectonic basin, there are also volcanic (Inawashiro, Towada, Kuttyaro) and lagoonal (Kasumigaura, Saroma) lakes

Japan belongs to a temperature zone with four distinct seasons, but its climate ranges from low temperatures in the north to subtropical in the south. The climate also depends on the seasonal winds blowing from the continent in winter and in the opposite direction in summer.

Japan can be roughly divided into six climatic zones:

Hokkaido belongs to the zone of low temperatures, it is characterized by long frosty winters and cool summers.

In the Sea of ​​Japan, the northeast seasonal wind brings heavy snowfalls in winter. Summers are less warm than in the Pacific Ocean, but extreme high temperatures are sometimes observed due to the foehn phenomenon.

The climate of the Central Highlands is a typical island climate with a large variation in temperature in winter and summer, night and day.

In the Inland Sea zone, the climate is temperate due to the fact that the mountains in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions block the seasonal winds.

The Pacific area experiences cold winters with occasional snowfall, and generally hot and humid summers during southeasterly seasonal winds.

The southwestern islands are a zone with a subtropical climate. Winter is warm, summer is hot. The level of precipitation is very high, which is reflected in the existence of the rainy season and the occurrence of typhoons.

Forests cover over 66% of the country. The flora of Japan has more than 700 species of trees and shrubs and about 3,000 species of herbs.

Hokkaido is dominated by coniferous forests of spruce and fir, with thick undergrowth of bamboo. With height, the forest is gradually replaced by thickets of dwarf pine and birch forests, herbaceous-shrub formations and shrub wastelands. In the north of the island, the upper limit coniferous forests is 500 m, in the southern regions they are replaced by deciduous broad-leaved forests. In the southwest of Hokkaido, broad-leaved forests rise from the coast to a height of 500 m.

Deciduous broad-leaved forests are also common on Honshu, growing oak, beech, maple, chestnut, ash, linden, etc. They rise to a height of 1800 m, and coniferous forests end at an altitude of 1800-2000 m. The lower parts of the slopes of the Honshu mountains south of 38° north latitude and the slopes of the mountains on the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu up to a height of 800 m are covered with evergreen subtropical forests (with the participation of evergreen oak, magnolias, camphor tree, cryptomeria, Japanese cypress, etc.) with rich undergrowth and an abundance of lianas. In the extreme south of Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands, monsoon forests are common up to a height of 300 m, in which palms, ficuses, tree ferns, bamboo, and orchids are found.

Due to Japan's island isolation animal world somewhat depleted compared to the mainland (and the forms are crushed), but many endemic and relic species have survived in the country. Its fauna includes 270 species of mammals, about 800 species of birds and 110 species of reptiles. Over 600 species of fish and more than 1,000 species of mollusks live in the seas surrounding the country. Because of mountainous terrain mainly dominated by species adapted to life in mountain forests.

On the island of Hokkaido there are brown bear, sable, ermine, weasel. In addition, wolves, foxes, the Asian badger, raccoon dogs, otters and hares live there and on the island of Honshu. South of the Sangar Strait live white-breasted bears, Japanese macaques, antelopes, gigantic salamanders. Tropical fauna lives south of the Togara Strait in Japan.

Of the birds, there are woodpecker, thrush, titmouse, swallow, starling, black grouse, cranes, stork, hawk, eagle, owls, there are many sea birds off the coast. A typical sinanthropus is a large-billed crow. Also from corvids there are magpie, blue magpie, jay, kuksha, black crow. Kedrovka. Freshwater fish - carp, catfish, eel, lamprey; artificially bred eels and salmon, including trout. Commercial fish of coastal waters: Pacific herring, ivasi, tuna, cod, flounder. There are also crabs, shrimps, oysters.

The territory of Japan is about 370 thousand square meters, which allows it to occupy only the 61st place in the world ranking of countries with the largest territory. However, the number of people living in this territory of 129 million people (as of 2015), puts Japan among the most densely populated countries in the world. The country ranks 10th in the list of countries in terms of the number of people living.

Geographic characteristics

Japan is an island state. It is located at 4 big islands, whose names are familiar to all lovers of geography: Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu. They make up 98% of the country's territory. The remaining 2% falls on 3 thousand small and sometimes even small islands. In order to keep in touch between disparate territories, the islands united through a system of bridges and tunnels dug underground and under water. This is how a single land space was created in Japan.

Nature

country rising sun often also called the country of steep slopes. And this is true. The vast majority (about 3/4) of all mountain ranges in the country are too scattered to be developed. The contours of the mountains are angular, with pointed contours. The only exception is mountain ranges located in the south of Honshu and Kyushu. Yes, and near the coast of the island of Hokkaido, you can see the smooth outlines of mountain ranges.

Most high mountains, by analogy with European ones, are called the Japanese Alps. They are located in the center of the island of Honshu, not far from Tokyo. They are quite high - peaks of 3000 meters above sea level are not uncommon here. Thanks to his appearance and attraction they are a tourist attraction...

Japan has a huge number of rivers. Their profiles are short and quite steep. Because of this, their use for shipping is difficult. The waters of these rivers are clean, transparent, they have a lot of various fish. The three largest Japanese rivers are called Shinano, Ishikari and Kanto. Shinano originates in the Japanese Alps, flows for more than 360 km and then flows into the Sea of ​​Japan. Ishikari begins in the western part of Hokaido, flows almost the same distance and also feeds the Sea of ​​Japan with its waters. As for Kanto, it passes through the Kanto plain and flows into Tokyo Bay, and therefore indirectly we can say that it flows directly into the Pacific Ocean ...

The territory of the country is generously washed different seas and oceans. In the east and south, its islands are dominated by the Pacific Ocean. In the west, there are the coasts of the East China and Japan Seas, and in the North, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk...

In Japan, you can find a lot of different types of flora and fauna. This is a consequence of the fact that the climate here is very favorable for their living, the humidity is quite high. Plus, the island isolation of the country is doing its job. A feature of the flora and fauna is the fact that here you can often find endemics - animals that live only in this part the globe. Yes, and forests make up 60% of the country's territory, which only contributes to the development of flora and fauna.

Of the plants, camphor laurels, oaks and camellias are common, you can also find bamboo and ginkgo. Their animals are of particular interest to Japanese macaques, raccoon dogs, shrews, flying squirrels and chipmunks, copper pheasants...

The climate of the country can be described as mild and humid. In winter, temperatures rarely drop below zero mark. Severe cold is very rare, but in Northern Japan you can find snow, which, however, melts rather quickly. The seasons in nature are more or less pronounced, and especially beautiful spring bloom sakura...

Resources

The country has a very low resource potential. Almost all Natural resources- in great deficit, and above all mineral. And although various types of minerals are present in the country, the reserves of these resources are minimal, and the needs of such countries are great. Therefore, the country is forced to import almost all minerals from neighboring states more generously endowed with nature...

Japan is a unique country. After all, despite the dependence on imported resources, the industrial approach to production, as well as the potential itself, is huge. This is how ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (Japanese cars are known all over the world as an example of reliability), and shipbuilding were developed. Many residential and administrative facilities are being built, the chemical and petrochemical industries are at the peak of their development. The country has achieved great achievements in the field of digital technologies.

As for agriculture, on soils on which nothing grows at all, Japanese farmers, using modern technologies, grow vegetables and fruits in large enough quantities ...

culture

The cultural layer of the country is very original and unique. The Japanese adhere to ancient traditions such as the tea ceremony, kimono and geisha, which are not found in any other country in the world. There are two main religions in Japan - Shintoism and Buddhism, and the people themselves are quite hospitable, although they show characteristic restraint in showing any emotions...