Japan Population

Japan Population

With a population of around 127 million people, Japan is the tenth most populated country of the world. The explosive growth in the population could be largely attributed to the facts that Japan had very high GDP growth rates during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Japan is the most densely populated country in the world and it has a population density of 335 persons per square kilometer. As of the year 2006, Japanese population has the highest life expectancy of 81.25 years.

The population of Japan falls essentially into an urban society with hardly 5% of the population engaged in Agriculture. Even amongst the agricultural labor force, many work for part time jobs in the surrounding towns and cities. Tokyo, the capital and largest city of Japan, is the most populous city of the world with a population of around 35 million people. Over crowded cities, congested highways and heavy urban population density are some of the most common problems that confront the industrialized and highly developed country Japan.

Japan Population

Tokyo Japan facts

Tokyo Japan

Tokyo is the Capital and Largest City of Japan. Tokyo is one of the 47 Prefectures (sub-national divisions) but is always referred to as Tokyo Metropolis. Tokyo lies on the eastern side of the main island Honshu in Japan. Tokyo is not only the World's Most Populous Metropolis with a population of about 35 million people but also the World's Largest Metropolitan Economy with a GDP of about 1.5 Trillion USD as of the year 2008. Although Tokyo is described by various bodies as the Most Livable City but at the same time Tokyo is also the World's Most Expensive City.

Tokyo is the Seat of Japanese Government and the Imperial Palace and the residence of Japanese Imperial Family. The climate of Tokyo is humid subtropical with summers hot to very hot and mild to cold winters and sporadic snow falls. Tokyo has often been hit by powerful Earthquakes, most severe being the one of 1923 when about 140,000 people had died. Tokyo, one of the financial command centers along with New York and London, houses the headquarters of several global corporate giants including the leading investment banks and insurance companies. Public transport in Tokyo has an extensive network of clean and efficient railways, metro trains, subways and road network besides several domestic and international air services.


Japan - Shibuya Crossing
Originally uploaded by sHzaam!

Japan Religion

Japan Religion
In Japan, 99% of the population observe Buddhism or Shinto Religion. From the rest of the population, about 0.7% follow Christian religion and others comprise of mixed religion including Korean, Chinese and Filipino. Japanese government allows freedom of religion to all the people and that is why, you might come across Christians, Islams and Sikhs besides the Koreans and Chinese.

Shintoism or Buddhism is is the most commonly followed religion in Japan and in fact, Japan is the only major country where there are millions of Shinto people. Nachi Shrine or Temple is the most ancient place of worship for the Japanese Shinto people. Few of the original Shinto shrines were used to worship Sun, Rocks, Trees and many other things in the nature. People wanting to visit Shinto shrines are required to perform an act of purification before visiting these shrines. Apart from Shintoism and Buddhism, Japan is also witnessing the arrival of new religions such as Soka Gakkai, which is nothing but a Buddhist Sect that preaches the main motto of peace, culture and education.

Japanese temple

Japanese Customs and Traditions

Japanese Customs and Traditions


Japan is one of the few countries where some of the traditions and customs are followed rigidly in order to fulfill the expectations of social behavior. In westernized culture, you come across what is commonly known as Etiquette while in Japan, they have certain standard traditions such as Bowing, specialized use of chopsticks, gift-giving and hospitality. Some of the conventions, traditions and customs are restricted specific regions and thus it may not be followed all throughout Japan.

Many customs have also changed over historical traditions and some conventions have also entered into Japan from the Western Cultures. When it comes to family traditions and customs, Japanese follow more or less customs similar to many other Asian countries such as India, Indonesia and Thailand. In some part of Japan, it is as good as mandatory to conform to the region and religion specific customs and behaviors. Japanese are generally rigid about their customs and traditions and therefore they expect their visitors to follow the same until they are in the Land of Rising Sun.

Chopsticks

Naked Festival Entices Thousands To Ohara

Japanese men throw mikoshi (portable shrines) before carrying it into the sea during the Ohara Hadaka (naked) Festival on September 23, 2008 in Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The Ohara Hadaka Festival is celebrated by naked adult males to wish for the abundant crop and the prosperity of the year.

Coming-of-Age Day in Tokyo

Japanese twenty-year-olds, dressed in traditional kimonos, attend the annual Coming-of-Age Day ceremony at Toshimaen Amusement Park on January 12, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. 1.33 million youth celebrate their passage into adulthood on the day while they become eligible to drink alcohol, smoke and vote at the age of 20.

Cooking Toys flourish In Popularity Amongst Japanese Families

Pastry chef Dai Kitatoki and singer Maya Sakura show Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy's cooking toys in which children can easily make Taiyaki, the popular Japanese traditional fish-shaped pancake filled with beam jam, during the Cooking Toy Studio opening event at Kiddy Land Harajuku on April 30, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Cooking toys, such as pasta machines, ice-cream machines and doughnut machines are becoming increasingly popular with Japanese famalies.