Changes

== Current Status ==

== Current Status ==

Japan is currently the world's most populous [[constitutional monarchy]], fourth largest [[economy]] (counting the [[European Union]] as one economy), and has the world's third largest [[defense budget]] (counting the constituents of the EU as separate states).   

Japan is currently the world's most populous [[constitutional monarchy]], fourth largest [[economy]] (counting the [[European Union]] as one economy), and has the world's third largest [[defense budget]] (counting the constituents of the EU as separate states).   

Japan's modern economy has many world leading industries and companies, being driven by exports and a mastery of high technology. However in the 1990's the economy underwent a major slowdown in part because of overinvestment and an asset price bubble during the late 1980s.  Japan has a huge government debt, which exceedes the Gross Domestic product (176% of GDP) and also faces the challenge of a low birth rate, low immigration and an aging of the population which will further increase the debts.  [[China]] also is becoming a larger economy and international trading partner than Japan.  

Japan's modern economy has many world leading industries and companies, being driven by exports and a mastery of high technology. However in the 1990's the economy underwent a major slowdown in part because of over investment and an asset price bubble during the late 1980s.  Japan has a huge government debt, which exceeds the Gross Domestic product (176% of GDP) and also faces the challenge of a low birth rate, low immigration and an aging of the population which will further increase the debts.  [[China]] also is becoming a larger economy and international trading partner than Japan.  

The current [[Emperor]] is [[Akihito]]; he will be succeeded upon his death or abdication by [[Crown Prince]] [[Naruhito]].  The current [[Prime Minister]] is [[Shinzo Abe]], of the [[Liberal Democratic Party]].  This party is not to be confused with America's [[liberal]] [[Democrats]]; the corresponding party in Japan is the [[Socialists]].  The Liberal Democratic Party has formed all but two of Japan's post-World War II governments, which as in any [[parliamentary]] system rise and fall with somewhat less predictability than United States administrations.

The current [[Emperor]] is [[Akihito]]; he will be succeeded upon his death or abdication by [[Crown Prince]] [[Naruhito]].  The current [[Prime Minister]] is [[Shinzo Abe]], of the [[Liberal Democratic Party]].  This party is not to be confused with America's [[liberal]] [[Democrats]]; the corresponding party in Japan is the [[Socialists]].  The Liberal Democratic Party has formed all but two of Japan's post-World War II governments, which as in any [[parliamentary]] system rise and fall with somewhat less predictability than United States administrations.

Among constitutional monarchies, Japan is likely to be supplanted as most populous by [[Thailand]] sometime during the twenty-first century.  This is as a result of Japan's low [[birth rate]] (in part a result of the nation's early legalization of [[abortion]]) and lack of desire to expand [[immigration]] (Japan is the most ethnically [[homogenous]] of the world's wealthy countries).  Ironically, the relative prosperity of Thailand is in large part due to heavy aid and investment by Japan.

Among constitutional monarchies, Japan is likely to be supplanted as most populous by [[Thailand]] sometime during the twenty-first century.  This is as a result of Japan's low [[birth rate]] (in part a result of the nation's early legalization of [[abortion]]) and lack of desire to expand [[immigration]] (Japan is the most ethnically [[homogeneous]] of the world's wealthy countries).  Ironically, the relative prosperity of Thailand is in large part due to heavy aid and investment by Japan.

Historically Japanese government has shifted between no official relgion, [[Shinto|Shintō]], and [[Buddhism]].<ref name="WebJapanFactSheet">[http://web-japan.org/factsheet/ Web Japan Fact Sheet], sponsored by the [http://www.mofa.go.jp/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]</ref> Modern Japan has no state religion.<ref>Article 20 of the [[Current Constitution of Japan (Full Text)|Japanese Constitution]] erects a legal barrier between political and religious entities.</ref> An extreme interpretation of [[Shinto]] helped drive Japan's participation in [[World War II]].  As in other constitutional monarchies, political involvement of the emperor is limited by the constitution to ceremonial roles under the exclusive direction of the parliament, although symbolic gestures such as the annual wreath-laying ceremony at [[Yasukuni Shrine]] have occasionally antagonized Japan's neighbors.  Most imported religions are practiced in Japan without interference, and [[Buddhism]] has been accepted by a large portion of the population. The percentage of Japanese who are Christian stands around 1%. <ref name="WebJapanFactSheet"/> <ref>Central Intelligence Agency, ''The World Fact Book'', [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html Japan]</ref>  <ref>Encyclopædia Brittanica, ''2006 World Fact Sheet'', Japan</ref> Japan has also spawned its share of [[cults]], including the exceptionally lethal but fortunately short-lived [[Aum Shinrikyo]] movement of the early 1990's, which in 1994 became the first non-state organization to kill people with [[nerve gas]].

Historically Japanese government has shifted between no official religion, [[Shinto|Shintō]], and [[Buddhism]].<ref name="WebJapanFactSheet">[http://web-japan.org/factsheet/ Web Japan Fact Sheet], sponsored by the [http://www.mofa.go.jp/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]</ref> Modern Japan has no state religion.<ref>Article 20 of the [[Current Constitution of Japan (Full Text)|Japanese Constitution]] erects a legal barrier between political and religious entities.</ref> An extreme interpretation of [[Shinto]] helped drive Japan's participation in [[World War II]].  As in other constitutional monarchies, political involvement of the emperor is limited by the constitution to ceremonial roles under the exclusive direction of the parliament, although symbolic gestures such as the annual wreath-laying ceremony at [[Yasukuni Shrine]] have occasionally antagonized Japan's neighbors.  Most imported religions are practiced in Japan without interference, and [[Buddhism]] has been accepted by a large portion of the population. The percentage of Japanese who are Christian stands around 1%. <ref name="WebJapanFactSheet"/> <ref>Central Intelligence Agency, ''The World Fact Book'', [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html Japan]</ref>  <ref>Encyclopædia Brittanica, ''2006 World Fact Sheet'', Japan</ref> Japan has also spawned its share of [[cults]], including the exceptionally lethal but fortunately short-lived [[Aum Shinrikyo]] movement of the early 1990's, which in 1994 became the first non-state organization to kill people with [[nerve gas]].

==References==

==References==