World Factbook
Japan
Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: white with a large red disk that symbolizes the sun without rays, in the center history: the current flag was adopted in 1854, but a sun flag has been in use in Japan since at least 1184; the sun has long been a national symbol: according to tradition, the sun goddess Amaterasu founded the country in the 7th century B.C.
Capital
name
Tokyo
etymology
originally known as Edo, meaning "estuary" because of its location on a bay; the name was changed to Tokyo, meaning "eastern capital," in 1868, as a contrast to Kyoto, the previous capital to the west
time difference
UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
35 41 N, 139 45 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947
amendment process
proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum
Country name
etymology
the English word for Japan comes from the Chinese name for the country, Cipangu; both Nihon and Nippon come from the Japanese words nichi , or "sun," and hon , or "origin," which is frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"
local long form
Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
local short form
Nihon/Nippon
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Japan
Independence
3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of Emperor JIMMU founding the nation); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)
Legal system
civil law system based on German model; also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
note
note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices)
subordinate courts
8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum during the first general election of the House of Representatives after each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward
Executive branch
note
note: Shigeru ISHIBA resigned as prime minister on 7 September 2025; the party vote on the new prime minister is expected in early October 2025
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
chief of state
Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019)
election results
2025: Sanae TAKAICHI (LDP) elected prime minister on 21 October 2025; upper house vote - 125 of 171 votes (runoff); lower house vote - 237 of 386 votes 2024: Shigeru ISHIBA (LDP) elected prime minister on 27 September 2024; upper house vote - 143 of 242 votes; lower house vote - 291 of 461 votes
head of government
Prime Minister Sanae TAKAICHI (since 21 October 2025)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister
National holiday
Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960)
note: celebrates the birthday of the current emperor
National color(s)
red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
26 (21 cultural, 5 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Himeji-jo (c); Shiretoko (n); Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (c); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c); Yakushima (n); Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (c); Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (c); Shirakami-Sanchi (n); Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (c); Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Shrines and Temples of Nikko (c); Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (c); Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (c); Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (c); Ogasawara Islands (n); Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region (c); Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region (c); Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island (n); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c)
Political parties
Conservative Party of Japan or CPJ Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP Democratic Party for the People or DPFP or DPP Japan Communist Party or JCP Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin no kai or Ishin Komeito or Komei Liberal Democratic Party or LDP Okinawa Social Mass Party or Okinawa Whirlwind or OW Party to Protect the People from NHK or NHK Reiwa Shinsengumi Sanseito Party Social Democratic Party or SDP
Legislative branch
legislature name
National Diet (Kokkai)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Kimigayo" (“His Majesty’s Reign)
history
adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; some oppose the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor
lyrics/music
unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI
National symbol(s)
red sun disc, chrysanthemum
National coat of arms
the Kikumon is the Japanese emperor's family coat of arms and dates from 1183; the Imperial chrysanthemum emblem (菊の御紋, kikunogomon ) is a yellow or orange chrysanthemum with black or red outlines and background; a central disc is surrounded by a front set of 16 petals; a rear set of 16 petals are half-staggered in relation to the front set and are visible at the edges of the flower
Administrative divisions
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Shugiin)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
465 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
7/20/2025
expected date of next election
October 2028
percentage of women in chamber
15.7%
parties elected and seats per party
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (191); Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (148); Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (38); Democratic Party for the People (28); Komeito (24); Other (36)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
House of Councillors (Sangiin)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
248 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
10/27/2024
expected date of next election
June 2028
percentage of women in chamber
29.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (39); Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (22); Democratic Party for the People (17); Sanseito (14); Komeito (8); Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (7); Independents (8); Other (10)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 328-2187
chancery
2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 238-6700
consulate(s)
Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Seattle (WA)
chief of mission
Ambassador YAMADA Shigeo (since 27 February 2024)
consulate(s) general
Chicago
email address and website
emb-consulate.dc@ws.mofa.go.jp https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[81] (03) 3224-5856
embassy
1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
telephone
[81] (03) 3224-5000
consulate(s)
Fukuoka, Nagoya
mailing address
9800 Tokyo Place, Washington DC 20521-9800
chief of mission
Ambassador George GLASS (since 17 July 2025)
consulate(s) general
Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
email address and website
TokyoACS@state.gov https://jp.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Quad, SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction