Changes

== Japan ==

[[Image:Flag of Japan.svg‎|thumbnail|right|250px|The Japanese flag. The large red disc represents the rising sun.]]

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!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: white  no-repeat scroll top left;"|Japan

!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: white  no-repeat scroll top left;"|[[Image:Flag of Japan.svg‎|250px]]

Flag of Japan<br><small>The Japanese flag. The large red disc represents the rising sun.</small>

|[[Hindi]]

 

'''Japan''' is a nation that consists of a group of islands off the eastern coast of [[Asia]].  The principal islands are, in the [[Romanization|Roman alphabet]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]], [[Kyushu]] and [[Shikoku]].  Japan also controls many smaller islands, notably the [[Ryuku]] chain south of Kyushu, for a total land area slightly smaller than California.  The islands of Japan are scattered between 24ºN and 45ºN lattitude (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. [http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]

'''Japan''' is a nation that consists of a group of islands off the eastern coast of [[Asia]].  The principal islands are, in the [[Romanization|Roman alphabet]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]], [[Kyushu]] and [[Shikoku]].  Japan also controls many smaller islands, notably the [[Ryuku]] chain south of Kyushu, for a total land area slightly smaller than California.  The islands of Japan are scattered between 24ºN and 45ºN lattitude (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. [http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]

According to tradition, Japan was unified by [[Emperor]] [[Jimmu]], the grandson of the [[goddess]] [[Amaterasu]], in the year 660 B. C.  He conquered Honshu, the largest island, in a series of expeditions starting from his home base of [[Setsuma]] in Kyushu.

According to tradition, Japan was unified by [[Emperor]] [[Jimmu]], the grandson of the [[goddess]] [[Amaterasu]], in the year 660 B. C.  He conquered Honshu, the largest island, in a series of expeditions starting from his home base of [[Setsuma]] in Kyushu.

=== The Feudal Era ===  

=== The Feudal Era ===  

== 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).  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.

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).   

 

 

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 [[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.