Changes

|chancellor =

|chancellor =

|chancellor-raw =

|chancellor-raw =

|pm         =Yasuo Fuquda

|pm         =

|pm-raw         =

|pm-raw         =Yasuo Fu<i></i>kuda

|area         =377,832 sq. miles

|area         =377,832 sq. miles

|pop         =127,433,494

|pop         =127,433,494

'''Japan''' is a nation that consists of a group of islands off the eastern coast of [[Asia]].  The principal islands are [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]], [[Kyushu]] and [[Shikoku]], for a total land area slightly smaller than [[California]].  The islands of Japan are scattered between 24ºN and 45ºN latitude (roughly 1,800 miles, or [[Florida]] to [[Maine]]). As a result, the climate varies greatly. Its capital, [[Tokyo]], is the largest metropolitan area in the world. Japan is divided into a total of 47 [[prefecture]]s.

'''Japan''' is a nation that consists of a group of islands off the eastern coast of [[Asia]].  The principal islands are [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]], [[Kyushu]] and [[Shikoku]], for a total land area slightly smaller than [[California]].  The islands of Japan are scattered between 24ºN and 45ºN latitude (roughly 1,800 miles, or [[Florida]] to [[Maine]]). As a result, the climate varies greatly. Its capital, [[Tokyo]], is the largest metropolitan area in the world. Japan is divided into a total of 47 [[prefecture]]s.

<ref>Demographia - 50 Largest World Metropolitan Areas Ranked:

<ref>Demographia - 50 Largest World Metropolitan Areas Ranked:

2000 Estimates,[http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm] </ref>  

2000 Estimates,[http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm] </ref>

 

== History ==

== History ==

=== Origins ===

=== Origins ===