Kids Web Japan

Facts | Geography and Climate | Life | Schools | Cities

Location: Japan's neighbors include the Republic of Korea, China, and Russia.

National flag: Known as the Hinomaru, the flag depicts the sun as a red ball against a white background.

National anthem: "Kimigayo"

Population: 126,926,000 (as of 2000)  >> more info

Land area: 377,873 square kilometers  >> more info

Unit of currency: yen

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   1 yen coins

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   5 yen coins

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   10 yen coins

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   50 yen coins

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   100 yen coins

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   500 yen coins

7. Photos courtesy of Japan Mint

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   1,000 yen notes

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   2,000 yen notes

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   5,000 yen notes

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   10,000 yen notes

Photos courtesy of National Printing Bureau

Language: Japanese (The written Japanese language uses a combination of three writing systems: kanji, hiragana, and katakana.)
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Main religions: Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity
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Number of prefectures: 47

Capital: Tokyo (population 12,064,000 as of 2000; land area 2,102 square kilometers)
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Emperor: Emperor Akihito acceded to the throne as the 125th emperor of Japan in 1989. The emperor is the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people.
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Government  >> more info
Legislature: House of Representatives (480 members); House of Councillors (247 members)  >> more info

Administration: Cabinet Office and 12 ministries under a prime minister  >> more info

Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts, Summary Courts, and Family Courts  >> more info

Main industries: automobiles, precision machinery, consumer electronics, computers, and other electronic goods

GDP: US$4,296 billion (as of 2002)

Number of Internet users: 55.93 million people (as of the end of 2001)