Japan

12/13/08 I.  Government: Legistlative Branch- National Diet of Japan Two houses- House of representatives (passes bills, can override decisions of the other cabinet, 480 members.) House of Councilors (242 members) Bothe directly elected under the Parallel Voting System Executive Branch- Reports to the Diet. Prime Minister (appointed by the emperor, must be a member of one of the houses and a civilian.)Cabinet of Japan Judicial Branch- independent of the others. Appointed by the emperor as directed by the cabinet. --Judicial System draws from customary law, civil law, and common law. Drawn up on May 3, 1947, includes Bill of rights (similar the U.S.) and the right of judicial review. No administrative courts or claims courts. Jury system has only come into use recently --Japan is divided into 47 administrative divisions. Cities (Shi) are self-governing units administered independent of the larger jurisdiction. In order to attain Shi status, a jurisdiction must have at least 30,000 inhabitants 60% of whom are engaged in urban occupations. II. Exports -as a percentage of GNP, the Japanese country exports less than many major trading countries. In 1991 they exported 9.3% if it’s GNP compared to 14.9% for Italy, 18.2% for France, and 22.1% for Britain. (U.S. 7.4%) -U.S. sends more exports to Japan than other countries. Highlights of Japan’s Market: > Japan 65.7% > U.S.A. 61.8% > Japan 88.1% > U.S. 54.6% > Japan 85.1% > U.S. 54.6%
 * Japan**
 * Asia 's trendsetter
 * Returning to growth economy
 * Second-highest GDP in the world
 * Second-highest purchasing power and consumption levels in the world after the U.S.
 * Efficient, state-of-the-art transportation and communications systems
 * Households with computers:
 * Households with internet access:
 * Cellular telephone subscribers:
 * Population ** 127.7 million **B.** **Land Area** 377,864 sq. km. (145,902 Sq. mi.);slightly smaller than California **C.** **Capital** Tokyo **D.** **Other Major Cities** Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka **E.** **Government Type** Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government **F.** **Language** Japanese **G.** **Primary Industries** machinery and equipment, metals and metal products, textiles, automobiles, chemicals, electrical and electronic equipment **H.** **GDP (2007)** $4.9 trillion **I.** **GDP per capita in U.S. dollars (2007)** $33,100 **J.** **Real GDP growth rate (2007)** 2.8% **K.** **Consumer Price Increase Rates (2007)** 0.4 % **L.** **Unemployment Rate (2007)** 3.9% **M.** **Total Imports(2007)** $621.1 billion **N.** **Total Exports (2007)** $712.7 billion **O.** **Major Import Suppliers (as % of M.)** China 20.8 %, U.S. 11.6 %, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, UAE 5.2%, South Korea 4.4 %, Indonesia 4.2 %, Taiwan 3.2%, Germany 3.1%, Thailand 2.9% **P.** **Major Export Markets (as % of N.)** China 20.7%, U.S. 20.4 %, South Korea 7.8 %, Taiwan 6.3 %, Thailand 3.6%, Germany 3.2 %, Singapore 3.1% **Q.** **Top 10 Imports (Japan from world)** crude oil, textile articles, electronic components, computers, LNG, fishes and shells, audio and visual apparatus, nonferrous metals, optical instruments, petroleum products **R.** **Top 10 Exports (Japan to world)** automobiles, electronic components, automobile parts, steel, optical instruments, prime motors, imaging equipment, organic compound, electrical apparatus, computer parts **S.** **Imports from U.S. (2007)** $62.7 billion **T.** **Exports to U.S. (2007)** $145.5 billion **U.** **Top 10 U.S. Exports Japan** computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, chemicals, machinery, agricultural products, food products, beverages and tobacco products, electrical equipment and component, fabricated metal products, marine products **V.** **Top 10 Japanese Exports to U.S.** transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, machinery, chemicals, electrical equipment and component, fabricated metal products, plastics and rubber products, primary metal manufacturing, nonmetallic mineral products, paper