| JAPAN Japan Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku Joined United Nations: 18 December 1956 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 06/04/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Tokyo
127,078,679 (July 2009 est.)
Akihito
Emperor since 7 July 1989
Emperor since 7 July 1989
Ascended to the throne upon the death of his father Emperor
Shōwa (Hirohito) after 63 year rule
Next scheduled election: None, the monarch is hereditary;
heir apparent is Crown Prince Naruhito
Shōwa (Hirohito) after 63 year rule
Next scheduled election: None, the monarch is hereditary;
heir apparent is Crown Prince Naruhito
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Naoto Kan
Prime Minister since 04 June 2010
Prime Minister since 04 June 2010
Diet designates prime minister; constitution requires that prime
minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition
in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister
NOTE: Following the resignation of Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama, Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan was elected
Prime Minister by the Diet.
minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition
in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister
NOTE: Following the resignation of Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama, Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan was elected
Prime Minister by the Diet.
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%
note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned
to Brazil (2004)
note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned
to Brazil (2004)
| RELIGIONS |
Observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government comprised of 47 prefectures. Legal system is modeled after
European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; prime minister is designated by the Diet following legislative elections
Legislative: Bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected
for six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional
representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 300 in
single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs)
elections: House of Councillors - last held 29 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2010); House of Representatives - last
held 30 August 2009 (next to be held by August 2013)
Judicial: Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are
appointed by the cabinet)
European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; prime minister is designated by the Diet following legislative elections
Legislative: Bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected
for six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional
representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 300 in
single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs)
elections: House of Councillors - last held 29 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2010); House of Representatives - last
held 30 August 2009 (next to be held by August 2013)
Judicial: Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are
appointed by the cabinet)
| LANGUAGES |
Japanese
| BRIEF HISTORY |
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
In the years following World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology,
and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan develop a technologically advanced economy.
Today, measured on a purchasing power parity basis, Japan is the third-largest economy in the world after the US and
China; measured by official exchange rates, however, Japan is the second largest economy in the world behind the US.
Two notable characteristics of the post-war economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers,
and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor
force. Both features are now eroding under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change.
Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. A tiny agricultural sector is highly
subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan imports
about 60% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly
15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular - a 10% average in the
1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just
1.7%, largely because of the after effects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s that required
a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. In October 2007 Japan's longest post-war
period of economic expansion ended after 69 months and Japan entered into recession in 2008, with 2009 marking a
return to near 0% interest rates. The Japanese financial sector was not heavily exposed to sub-prime mortgages or their
derivative instruments and weathered the initial effect of the global credit crunch, but a sharp downturn in business
investment and global demand for Japan's exports in late 2008 pushed Japan further into a recession. The 10-year
privatization of Japan Post, which has functioned not only as the national postal delivery system but also, through its
banking and insurance facilities, as Japan's largest financial institution, began in October 2007, marking a major milestone
in the process of structural reform; however, in December 2009, the Democratic Party of Japan-led government passed a
law to freeze future sales of Japan Post shares, halting the privatization process begun by Liberal Democratic Party
governments. Debate continues on the role of and effects of reform in restructuring the economy and funding to stimulate
consumption in the face of a tight fiscal situation. Japan's huge government debt, estimated to have reached 192% of GDP
in 2009, and an aging and shrinking population are two major long-run problems.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Japan)
and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan develop a technologically advanced economy.
Today, measured on a purchasing power parity basis, Japan is the third-largest economy in the world after the US and
China; measured by official exchange rates, however, Japan is the second largest economy in the world behind the US.
Two notable characteristics of the post-war economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers,
and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor
force. Both features are now eroding under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change.
Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. A tiny agricultural sector is highly
subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan imports
about 60% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly
15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular - a 10% average in the
1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just
1.7%, largely because of the after effects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s that required
a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. In October 2007 Japan's longest post-war
period of economic expansion ended after 69 months and Japan entered into recession in 2008, with 2009 marking a
return to near 0% interest rates. The Japanese financial sector was not heavily exposed to sub-prime mortgages or their
derivative instruments and weathered the initial effect of the global credit crunch, but a sharp downturn in business
investment and global demand for Japan's exports in late 2008 pushed Japan further into a recession. The 10-year
privatization of Japan Post, which has functioned not only as the national postal delivery system but also, through its
banking and insurance facilities, as Japan's largest financial institution, began in October 2007, marking a major milestone
in the process of structural reform; however, in December 2009, the Democratic Party of Japan-led government passed a
law to freeze future sales of Japan Post shares, halting the privatization process begun by Liberal Democratic Party
governments. Debate continues on the role of and effects of reform in restructuring the economy and funding to stimulate
consumption in the face of a tight fiscal situation. Japan's huge government debt, estimated to have reached 192% of GDP
in 2009, and an aging and shrinking population are two major long-run problems.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Japan)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
The Imperial Household of Japan is headed by the Emperor of Japan. The Constitution of Japan defines the emperor to
be "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He performs ceremonial duties and holds no real power, not
even emergency reserve powers. Power is held mainly by the Prime Minister and other elected members of the Diet.
Sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people by the constitution. Though his official status is disputed, on diplomatic
occasions the emperor tends to behave as though he were a head of state (with widespread public support). Japan is
the only country in the world headed by an emperor!
Despite an increasingly unpredictable domestic and international environment, policy making conforms to well
established postwar patterns. The close collaboration of the ruling party, the elite bureaucracy and important interest
groups often make it difficult to tell who exactly is responsible for specific policy decisions. The tendency for insiders to
guard information on such matters compounds the difficulty, especially for foreigners wishing to understand how
domestic decision making can be influenced to reduce trade problems.
The year 2009 is being observed a major change in Japanese politics. The election results for the House of
Representatives were announced on 30 and 31 August 2009. The opposition party DPJ led by Yukio Hatoyama, has
cleared majority by winning 308 seats (10 seats won by allies Social Democratic Party and People's New Party).
While the ruling LDP led by Taro Aso, has secured 119 seats (21 seats won by New Komeito) and failed to form the
government. Changes in politics of Japan have been long awaited. In the early 1990s, the opposition united and formed
the government, however, not for long time. LDP get back its ruling position in 1994 and continued till 2009. Even
though, the LDP has managed huge majority in 2005 elections held for the House of Representatives under the
leadership of Koizumi. The weak performance by LDP leaders on various policies and reforms measures has led to the
defeat of the LDP in the August 2009 elections. DPJ chief Hatoyama will lead the next government soon with its
coalition partners.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Japan
be "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He performs ceremonial duties and holds no real power, not
even emergency reserve powers. Power is held mainly by the Prime Minister and other elected members of the Diet.
Sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people by the constitution. Though his official status is disputed, on diplomatic
occasions the emperor tends to behave as though he were a head of state (with widespread public support). Japan is
the only country in the world headed by an emperor!
Despite an increasingly unpredictable domestic and international environment, policy making conforms to well
established postwar patterns. The close collaboration of the ruling party, the elite bureaucracy and important interest
groups often make it difficult to tell who exactly is responsible for specific policy decisions. The tendency for insiders to
guard information on such matters compounds the difficulty, especially for foreigners wishing to understand how
domestic decision making can be influenced to reduce trade problems.
The year 2009 is being observed a major change in Japanese politics. The election results for the House of
Representatives were announced on 30 and 31 August 2009. The opposition party DPJ led by Yukio Hatoyama, has
cleared majority by winning 308 seats (10 seats won by allies Social Democratic Party and People's New Party).
While the ruling LDP led by Taro Aso, has secured 119 seats (21 seats won by New Komeito) and failed to form the
government. Changes in politics of Japan have been long awaited. In the early 1990s, the opposition united and formed
the government, however, not for long time. LDP get back its ruling position in 1994 and continued till 2009. Even
though, the LDP has managed huge majority in 2005 elections held for the House of Representatives under the
leadership of Koizumi. The weak performance by LDP leaders on various policies and reforms measures has led to the
defeat of the LDP in the August 2009 elections. DPJ chief Hatoyama will lead the next government soon with its
coalition partners.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Japan
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
The sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan
as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now
administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally
ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Dokdo) occupied by
South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the
Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site
of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now
administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally
ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Dokdo) occupied by
South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the
Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site
of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
None reported.
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Japan
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Japan is a parliamentary democracy with a population of approximately 127.7 million. In elections held in August, the Democratic
Party of Japan ended the Liberal Democratic Party's half-century dominance of the government when it captured a majority in the
legislature's lower house, adding to the plurality it captured in the upper house in 2007. Yukio Hatoyama became the prime minister
in August, replacing Taro Aso. The elections were generally considered free and fair. Civilian authorities generally maintained
effective control of the security forces.
The government generally respected the rights of its citizens.
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Japan is a parliamentary democracy with a population of approximately 127.7 million. In elections held in August, the Democratic
Party of Japan ended the Liberal Democratic Party's half-century dominance of the government when it captured a majority in the
legislature's lower house, adding to the plurality it captured in the upper house in 2007. Yukio Hatoyama became the prime minister
in August, replacing Taro Aso. The elections were generally considered free and fair. Civilian authorities generally maintained
effective control of the security forces.
The government generally respected the rights of its citizens.
- Human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported problems with the country's detention facilities and legal
system. - There were several reports of government corruption during the year.
- Reported cases of violence and other abuse against women and children increased.
- Sexual harassment and employment discrimination continued to be reported.
- Trafficking in persons remained a problem.
- Discrimination against children born out of wedlock and minorities were problems.
7 August 2009
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Forty-fourth session
20 July-7 August 2009
Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Japan
Introduction
2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its sixth periodic report which followed the Committee’s former
guidelines for preparation of reports, but which was overdue. The Committee also expresses its appreciation to the State party for
the written replies to the list of issues and questions raised by the pre-session working group and further expresses its appreciation
to the State party for its oral presentation and the further clarifications given. The Committee notes that a number of changes in
laws, policies and programmes with a positive impact on the rights of women have occurred since the end of the period covered by
the State party’s report.
Positive aspects
6. The Committee notes with appreciation that, since the consideration of its fourth and fifth periodic reports (CEDAW/C/JPN/4
and CEDAW/C/JPN/5) in 2003, the State party has enacted and revised numerous laws and legal provisions aimed at eliminating
discrimination against women and promoting gender equality and achieving compliance with the State party’s obligations under the
Convention. In particular, it welcomes the adoption of the amendment of the Civil Act abolishing the family head system contained
in article 3.1 of the Nationality Law, which enables children born out of wedlock to Japanese men and foreign women to be granted
Japanese nationality regardless of whether paternity is recognized before or after the birth. The amended provision also ensures that
men and women have the same rights with respect to their children’s nationality.
Principal areas of concern and recommendations
13. The Committee recalls the State party’s obligation to implement, systematically and continuously, all the provisions of the
Convention, and views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding observations as requiring the State
party’s priority attention between now and the submission of its next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee urges the State
party to focus on those areas in its implementation activities and to report on actions taken and results achieved in its next periodic
report. It calls upon the State party to submit the present concluding observations to all relevant ministries, to the Parliament and to
the judiciary, so as to ensure their full implementation.
Click here to read more »
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Forty-fourth session
20 July-7 August 2009
Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Japan
Introduction
2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its sixth periodic report which followed the Committee’s former
guidelines for preparation of reports, but which was overdue. The Committee also expresses its appreciation to the State party for
the written replies to the list of issues and questions raised by the pre-session working group and further expresses its appreciation
to the State party for its oral presentation and the further clarifications given. The Committee notes that a number of changes in
laws, policies and programmes with a positive impact on the rights of women have occurred since the end of the period covered by
the State party’s report.
Positive aspects
6. The Committee notes with appreciation that, since the consideration of its fourth and fifth periodic reports (CEDAW/C/JPN/4
and CEDAW/C/JPN/5) in 2003, the State party has enacted and revised numerous laws and legal provisions aimed at eliminating
discrimination against women and promoting gender equality and achieving compliance with the State party’s obligations under the
Convention. In particular, it welcomes the adoption of the amendment of the Civil Act abolishing the family head system contained
in article 3.1 of the Nationality Law, which enables children born out of wedlock to Japanese men and foreign women to be granted
Japanese nationality regardless of whether paternity is recognized before or after the birth. The amended provision also ensures that
men and women have the same rights with respect to their children’s nationality.
Principal areas of concern and recommendations
13. The Committee recalls the State party’s obligation to implement, systematically and continuously, all the provisions of the
Convention, and views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding observations as requiring the State
party’s priority attention between now and the submission of its next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee urges the State
party to focus on those areas in its implementation activities and to report on actions taken and results achieved in its next periodic
report. It calls upon the State party to submit the present concluding observations to all relevant ministries, to the Parliament and to
the judiciary, so as to ensure their full implementation.
Click here to read more »
FREEDOM IN THE WORLD REPORT- 2009
Political Rights Score: 1
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free
Overview
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) resigned in September 2008 after less than a year in
office. He was considered a moderate who was willing to build consensus, but he had failed to engage the opposition constructively
and suffered from low public approval ratings. Taro Aso, the LDP’s secretary general and a former foreign minister, was elected to
replace Fukuda as prime minister and pledged to revive the economy.
Koizumi and Abe continued to expand Japan’s role in peacekeeping and security, although the military remained restricted by Article
9 of the country’s pacifist constitution. Since 1992, Japanese troops have participated in several UN peacekeeping missions, and
Japanese warships and aircraft have provided logistical support to U.S.-led forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2006, Japan ended a
two-year mission in Iraq in which 1,000 soldiers performed noncombat functions and supplied humanitarian aid. An airlift mission
in the country was also phased out at the end of 2008.
Abe resigned in September 2007 after losing control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the
July 2007 elections. The DPJ won 60 of the 121 seats at stake, for a new total of 109, while the LDP fell to a total of 83 and New
Komeito sank to 20. Abe’s tenure had been marred by repeated scandals and political gaffes. Five of his ministers had resigned in
disgrace, and his agriculture minister committed suicide following revelations about questionable office expenses. Abe himself got
into trouble after claiming there was no evidence that the government had any role in the creation of Japan’s system of sexual
slavery during World War II. Yasuo Fukuda, whose father had been prime minister in the 1970s, was elected to replace Abe by an
overwhelming majority in the lower house. The 71-year-old was considered a moderate and a builder of consensus. However, after
he failed to rally support and govern effectively, he too resigned abruptly in September 2008. Former foreign minister Taro Aso, the
LDP secretary general, succeeded Fukuda later that month. Aso supported revising the constitution’s Article 9 to simplify overseas
military deployments. Despite ending its involvement in Iraq, Japan continued its refueling of American vessels in the Indian Ocean,
but his government’s top priority was to rejuvenate the faltering economy, which remained burdened with a government debt equal
to 182 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
Japan is an electoral democracy. The prime minister—the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Diet’s lower chamber, the
House of Representatives—serves as head of government and appoints a cabinet of ministers. Members of the 480-seat House of
Representatives serve four-year terms; 300 are elected in single-member constituencies and 180 are elected by party list in 11
regional districts. An upper chamber, the House of Councilors, consists of 146 members elected in multiseat constituencies and 96
elected by national party list; members serve six-year terms, with half facing election every three years. Emperor Akihito serves as
the ceremonial head of state.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 1
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free
Overview
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) resigned in September 2008 after less than a year in
office. He was considered a moderate who was willing to build consensus, but he had failed to engage the opposition constructively
and suffered from low public approval ratings. Taro Aso, the LDP’s secretary general and a former foreign minister, was elected to
replace Fukuda as prime minister and pledged to revive the economy.
Koizumi and Abe continued to expand Japan’s role in peacekeeping and security, although the military remained restricted by Article
9 of the country’s pacifist constitution. Since 1992, Japanese troops have participated in several UN peacekeeping missions, and
Japanese warships and aircraft have provided logistical support to U.S.-led forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2006, Japan ended a
two-year mission in Iraq in which 1,000 soldiers performed noncombat functions and supplied humanitarian aid. An airlift mission
in the country was also phased out at the end of 2008.
Abe resigned in September 2007 after losing control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the
July 2007 elections. The DPJ won 60 of the 121 seats at stake, for a new total of 109, while the LDP fell to a total of 83 and New
Komeito sank to 20. Abe’s tenure had been marred by repeated scandals and political gaffes. Five of his ministers had resigned in
disgrace, and his agriculture minister committed suicide following revelations about questionable office expenses. Abe himself got
into trouble after claiming there was no evidence that the government had any role in the creation of Japan’s system of sexual
slavery during World War II. Yasuo Fukuda, whose father had been prime minister in the 1970s, was elected to replace Abe by an
overwhelming majority in the lower house. The 71-year-old was considered a moderate and a builder of consensus. However, after
he failed to rally support and govern effectively, he too resigned abruptly in September 2008. Former foreign minister Taro Aso, the
LDP secretary general, succeeded Fukuda later that month. Aso supported revising the constitution’s Article 9 to simplify overseas
military deployments. Despite ending its involvement in Iraq, Japan continued its refueling of American vessels in the Indian Ocean,
but his government’s top priority was to rejuvenate the faltering economy, which remained burdened with a government debt equal
to 182 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
Japan is an electoral democracy. The prime minister—the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Diet’s lower chamber, the
House of Representatives—serves as head of government and appoints a cabinet of ministers. Members of the 480-seat House of
Representatives serve four-year terms; 300 are elected in single-member constituencies and 180 are elected by party list in 11
regional districts. An upper chamber, the House of Councilors, consists of 146 members elected in multiseat constituencies and 96
elected by national party list; members serve six-year terms, with half facing election every three years. Emperor Akihito serves as
the ceremonial head of state.
Click here to read more »
Japan: ‘Comfort women’ mark the 900th anniversary of the ‘Wednesday demonstration’
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC STATEMENT
13 January 2010
Amnesty International calls on the government of Japan to apologise fully and unequivocally to the survivors of Japan’s military
sexual slavery system on the occasion of the 900th Wednesday demonstration in Seoul, South Korea.
An estimated 200,000 women from 1932 to the end of World War II were forced into sexual slavery. The Japanese Imperial Army
preyed on women and girls who, because of age, poverty, class, family status, education, nationality or ethnicity were most
susceptible to being deceived and trapped into the sexual slavery system. These women suffered a range of abuses including
abduction, gang rape, and forced abortions. Many of the victims are still suffering from the consequences of these abuses.
Since January 1992, “Wednesday Demonstrations” have taken place every Wednesday outside the Japanese embassy in South
Korea. Survivors of the sexual slavery system, human rights activists, students and people from all over the world, have been
attending these weekly demonstration to show their solidarity and support for calls for justice.
South Korean survivor, Kim Hak-soon, who was the first to speak publicly of her ordeal, has inspired many others to break their
silence. These courageous survivors continue to work vigorously to campaign for justice and the promotion of human rights.
The survivors and supporters have travelled around the world speaking to politicians, governments, parliamentarians, students and
human rights activists. There is now an international movement of survivors, family members and supporters calling for justice.
Since 2007, the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan and the European Parliament, which represents the 27
member states of the EU, have all passed resolutions calling on the government of Japan to accept responsibility and apologize for
the crimes committed against these women..
In Japan the city councils of Takarazuka, Kiyose, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Mino-o, Kyo-Tanabe, Koganei, Mitaka, Ikoma, Sennan and
Kokubunjihave all called on the government of Japan to resolve this issue.
Amnesty International is proud to be part of the movement calling on the Japanese government to provide justice for the ‘comfort
women and urges the Japanese government to take action immediately to end this on-going violation of human rights.
Click here to read more »
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC STATEMENT
13 January 2010
Amnesty International calls on the government of Japan to apologise fully and unequivocally to the survivors of Japan’s military
sexual slavery system on the occasion of the 900th Wednesday demonstration in Seoul, South Korea.
An estimated 200,000 women from 1932 to the end of World War II were forced into sexual slavery. The Japanese Imperial Army
preyed on women and girls who, because of age, poverty, class, family status, education, nationality or ethnicity were most
susceptible to being deceived and trapped into the sexual slavery system. These women suffered a range of abuses including
abduction, gang rape, and forced abortions. Many of the victims are still suffering from the consequences of these abuses.
Since January 1992, “Wednesday Demonstrations” have taken place every Wednesday outside the Japanese embassy in South
Korea. Survivors of the sexual slavery system, human rights activists, students and people from all over the world, have been
attending these weekly demonstration to show their solidarity and support for calls for justice.
South Korean survivor, Kim Hak-soon, who was the first to speak publicly of her ordeal, has inspired many others to break their
silence. These courageous survivors continue to work vigorously to campaign for justice and the promotion of human rights.
The survivors and supporters have travelled around the world speaking to politicians, governments, parliamentarians, students and
human rights activists. There is now an international movement of survivors, family members and supporters calling for justice.
Since 2007, the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan and the European Parliament, which represents the 27
member states of the EU, have all passed resolutions calling on the government of Japan to accept responsibility and apologize for
the crimes committed against these women..
In Japan the city councils of Takarazuka, Kiyose, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Mino-o, Kyo-Tanabe, Koganei, Mitaka, Ikoma, Sennan and
Kokubunjihave all called on the government of Japan to resolve this issue.
Amnesty International is proud to be part of the movement calling on the Japanese government to provide justice for the ‘comfort
women and urges the Japanese government to take action immediately to end this on-going violation of human rights.
Click here to read more »
Japan: Urge Rights Reforms in Turkmenistan
Turkmen President’s Visit Key Opportunity to Press for Improvements
December 15, 2009
(Tokyo) - The Japanese government should use the upcoming state visit by the Turkmen president to raise concerns about the
appalling human rights situation in Turkmenistan and to press for concrete improvements, Human Rights Watch said today.
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is scheduled to begin a three-day visit to Japan on December 16, 2009, during which he
is expected to meet with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Emperor Akihito.
Unknown numbers of political prisoners languish in Turkmenistan's prisons and draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of
expression, association, assembly, movement, and religion remain in place. Independent civil society and media cannot operate
openly, if at all. The government threatens, harasses, and arrests those who question its policies, however modestly.
"The Turkmen government is one of the most repressive in the world, on par with Burma and North Korea," said Holly Cartner,
Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Japan is in a strong position, with business deals and aid on the agenda
and it needs to make clear that human rights reform is essential to a successful relationship."
The visit was announced in August under the previous Japanese government. Since then, Japanese and Turkmen business leaders
have reportedly met several times to discuss stronger business ties, including gas and oil projects. A bilateral business conference is
scheduled during the visit, suggesting that discussions of investment and business deals are likely to dominate the agenda. It is also
likely that Japan will announce a significant increase in aid to Turkmenistan.
Japan's official development aid (ODA) charter makes clear that decisions on aid should take into account the recipient country's
human rights record, yet Japan is only known to have invoked this principle in its decisions on aid to Burma and Zimbabwe.
New restrictions on travel imposed by the Turkmen government during the summer, preventing students enrolled in private
universities abroad from leaving Turkmenistan, is among the specific concerns Human Rights Watch urged Japan's leadership to
raise.
"While the Turkmen president tours Japan, hundreds of students are effectively held prisoner in their own country, arbitrarily
deprived of education of their choice," Cartner said. "Japan's leaders should press the Turkmen president to lift these outrageous
restrictions and to take other immediate steps to remedy abuses."
Click here to read more »
Turkmen President’s Visit Key Opportunity to Press for Improvements
December 15, 2009
(Tokyo) - The Japanese government should use the upcoming state visit by the Turkmen president to raise concerns about the
appalling human rights situation in Turkmenistan and to press for concrete improvements, Human Rights Watch said today.
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is scheduled to begin a three-day visit to Japan on December 16, 2009, during which he
is expected to meet with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Emperor Akihito.
Unknown numbers of political prisoners languish in Turkmenistan's prisons and draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of
expression, association, assembly, movement, and religion remain in place. Independent civil society and media cannot operate
openly, if at all. The government threatens, harasses, and arrests those who question its policies, however modestly.
"The Turkmen government is one of the most repressive in the world, on par with Burma and North Korea," said Holly Cartner,
Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Japan is in a strong position, with business deals and aid on the agenda
and it needs to make clear that human rights reform is essential to a successful relationship."
The visit was announced in August under the previous Japanese government. Since then, Japanese and Turkmen business leaders
have reportedly met several times to discuss stronger business ties, including gas and oil projects. A bilateral business conference is
scheduled during the visit, suggesting that discussions of investment and business deals are likely to dominate the agenda. It is also
likely that Japan will announce a significant increase in aid to Turkmenistan.
Japan's official development aid (ODA) charter makes clear that decisions on aid should take into account the recipient country's
human rights record, yet Japan is only known to have invoked this principle in its decisions on aid to Burma and Zimbabwe.
New restrictions on travel imposed by the Turkmen government during the summer, preventing students enrolled in private
universities abroad from leaving Turkmenistan, is among the specific concerns Human Rights Watch urged Japan's leadership to
raise.
"While the Turkmen president tours Japan, hundreds of students are effectively held prisoner in their own country, arbitrarily
deprived of education of their choice," Cartner said. "Japan's leaders should press the Turkmen president to lift these outrageous
restrictions and to take other immediate steps to remedy abuses."
Click here to read more »
Statement by Ms. Azusa Shinohara Alternate Representative of Japan
on Item 69 (b): Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human
rights and fundamental freedoms
Third Committee
64th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
New York
26 October 2009
Mr. Chairman,
The promotion and protection of human rights, which are universally valued by the international community, is a pillar of Japanese
foreign policy. And the fundamental approach Japan takes to this issue is to engage in dialogue and cooperation.
The Japanese government believes that human rights and democracy are advanced by each individual. To put it another way, the
promotion and protection of human rights and the consolidation of democracy can only take place when an enlightened citizenry and
civil society are cultivated through unceasing efforts to empower individuals. Thus the development of democracy is inseparable from
the development and capacity-building of individuals. Japan for its part is therefore working to strengthen the capabilities of every
individual and create communities where everyone is able to realize his or her potential and live in dignity. And it grounds its efforts in
the concept of human security, which it has been promoting for some time now. In the context of the current economic and financial
crisis, it is the most vulnerable among us whom we must especially endeavor to protect, as it is they who are always the first to fall
victim to hunger, disease, or crime, all of which are afflictions that reduce human dignity.
The protection and promotion of human rights and consolidation of democracy is an enterprise requiring the perseverance, courage,
and wisdom of vigilant people. Governments and citizens must persevere in their commitment towards this end. For its part, Japan
will continue steadfastly to provide assistance to countries taking initiatives to protect human rights and promote democracy.
It is necessary for the international community to work together to increase respect for the universal values of human rights and
democracy. And the mainstreaming of human rights must not take place only here, within the confines of the United Nations system,
but also outside these walls, all over the world. Here at the UN, however, Japan will continue to participate actively for the protection
of human rights in key international fora, in particular, the Third Committee and the Human Rights Council.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, Japan will continue to cooperate with the international community, especially the United Nations, to
promote and protect human rights, which are of critical concern to us all.
Click here to read more »
on Item 69 (b): Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human
rights and fundamental freedoms
Third Committee
64th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
New York
26 October 2009
Mr. Chairman,
The promotion and protection of human rights, which are universally valued by the international community, is a pillar of Japanese
foreign policy. And the fundamental approach Japan takes to this issue is to engage in dialogue and cooperation.
The Japanese government believes that human rights and democracy are advanced by each individual. To put it another way, the
promotion and protection of human rights and the consolidation of democracy can only take place when an enlightened citizenry and
civil society are cultivated through unceasing efforts to empower individuals. Thus the development of democracy is inseparable from
the development and capacity-building of individuals. Japan for its part is therefore working to strengthen the capabilities of every
individual and create communities where everyone is able to realize his or her potential and live in dignity. And it grounds its efforts in
the concept of human security, which it has been promoting for some time now. In the context of the current economic and financial
crisis, it is the most vulnerable among us whom we must especially endeavor to protect, as it is they who are always the first to fall
victim to hunger, disease, or crime, all of which are afflictions that reduce human dignity.
The protection and promotion of human rights and consolidation of democracy is an enterprise requiring the perseverance, courage,
and wisdom of vigilant people. Governments and citizens must persevere in their commitment towards this end. For its part, Japan
will continue steadfastly to provide assistance to countries taking initiatives to protect human rights and promote democracy.
It is necessary for the international community to work together to increase respect for the universal values of human rights and
democracy. And the mainstreaming of human rights must not take place only here, within the confines of the United Nations system,
but also outside these walls, all over the world. Here at the UN, however, Japan will continue to participate actively for the protection
of human rights in key international fora, in particular, the Third Committee and the Human Rights Council.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, Japan will continue to cooperate with the international community, especially the United Nations, to
promote and protect human rights, which are of critical concern to us all.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
March 30, 2009
Association Human Rights Institute of freedom
Fourth case of a retrial decision JCLU Yokohama statement
Today, the Yokohama District Court, the fourth case retrial so-called Yokohama incident, ruled for acquittal Yokohama incident, with
the prospect of a belief that certain ideas, such as magazine editors and journalists. The journalists, were arrested on the grounds of
mass violation of the Peace Preservation Law, forced to confess under torture are extreme, prison
Put to death, the case of suppression of speech rarely seen in history of modern and contemporary thought.. And now, in the case
was a retrial, the prosecution received the Yokohama District Court, 1945. In September, even though the war was ending, found
guilty based on false confessions, and then, Oh Going a waste that such violence Ete court records, in this case, the judicial power of
the state, including the incident The fabrication of the cover case of false imprisonment.
In order to build a free and democratic society, freedom of thought and expression must be a maximum value Narana Not. Entered
into before the war recklessly country, yet, until the land is Devastated the mass slaughter of civilians The war did not stop the
execution of the war under the Meiji Constitution, freedom of expression to criticize the government activities It was limited, it is the
biggest factor.
The Association is more than 60 years since the founding philosophy, stress the importance of freedom of expression, different
machines. Through the association, activities have been advanced. But to keep this fragile freedom right. Not only as an opportunity to
continue to stress the importance of the issues that arise every day, finding the truth about past events. In addition to seriously face
the facts that clearly reflect the importance of attitude. In this sense, The Yokohama District Court today, without adequate
investigation into the facts and understand that the Peace Preservation Law was abolished.
The reason that the court's ruling that ended the formal dismissal is very regrettable, disappointing.
Currently, the freedom of thought and conscience, freedom of expression is at risk. Eyes to the importance of freedom of these. A
series of court cases, including the national anthem piano accompaniment stay away from court cases, and the posting of fliers who
marched.
Excessive intervention of the power to arrest police found, the venue and hotels benefit screening of the movie scared the activities of
right-wing groups Has been rejected for such incident happened. Association, while showing strong opposition to the Yokohama
District Court today, will continue our association asked Expectations, more freedom of thought and conscience, continue to
unremitting efforts to guarantee freedom of expression. Is a new determination.
Click here to read more »
March 30, 2009
Association Human Rights Institute of freedom
Fourth case of a retrial decision JCLU Yokohama statement
Today, the Yokohama District Court, the fourth case retrial so-called Yokohama incident, ruled for acquittal Yokohama incident, with
the prospect of a belief that certain ideas, such as magazine editors and journalists. The journalists, were arrested on the grounds of
mass violation of the Peace Preservation Law, forced to confess under torture are extreme, prison
Put to death, the case of suppression of speech rarely seen in history of modern and contemporary thought.. And now, in the case
was a retrial, the prosecution received the Yokohama District Court, 1945. In September, even though the war was ending, found
guilty based on false confessions, and then, Oh Going a waste that such violence Ete court records, in this case, the judicial power of
the state, including the incident The fabrication of the cover case of false imprisonment.
In order to build a free and democratic society, freedom of thought and expression must be a maximum value Narana Not. Entered
into before the war recklessly country, yet, until the land is Devastated the mass slaughter of civilians The war did not stop the
execution of the war under the Meiji Constitution, freedom of expression to criticize the government activities It was limited, it is the
biggest factor.
The Association is more than 60 years since the founding philosophy, stress the importance of freedom of expression, different
machines. Through the association, activities have been advanced. But to keep this fragile freedom right. Not only as an opportunity to
continue to stress the importance of the issues that arise every day, finding the truth about past events. In addition to seriously face
the facts that clearly reflect the importance of attitude. In this sense, The Yokohama District Court today, without adequate
investigation into the facts and understand that the Peace Preservation Law was abolished.
The reason that the court's ruling that ended the formal dismissal is very regrettable, disappointing.
Currently, the freedom of thought and conscience, freedom of expression is at risk. Eyes to the importance of freedom of these. A
series of court cases, including the national anthem piano accompaniment stay away from court cases, and the posting of fliers who
marched.
Excessive intervention of the power to arrest police found, the venue and hotels benefit screening of the movie scared the activities of
right-wing groups Has been rejected for such incident happened. Association, while showing strong opposition to the Yokohama
District Court today, will continue our association asked Expectations, more freedom of thought and conscience, continue to
unremitting efforts to guarantee freedom of expression. Is a new determination.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
01 January 2010
Welcome to 2010
Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Institute director Nobuaki 長寺 Thurs
Happy New Year!
Past year, the effort you for your cooperation and Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research, We very much appreciate. More by
your support everyone who was able to gradually overcome by promoting reform within the financial crisis since the beginning of the
Institute. Let me take this opportunity, I thank.
Now, the global economic crisis caused by the collapse of the U.S. sub-prime loans occurred in the fall two years ago continues with
no improvement. Sent off, dismissal, corporate bankruptcy, has been the progress of society and become a serious gap. In Japanese
society, these more than 30,000 suicides annually in more than 10 years ranging and serious human rights violations on the net, the
situation is still serious.
In this dark social conditions continued in January last year in the United States became the first black president, forcing non-
cooperation between human rights violations against peaceful anti-environment by sheer force of military power as the Bush
administration The United States has, and great shifting. The Obama last year, in a speech in Prague, we say a step toward elimination
of nuclear weapons depth, gave encouragement to many people wish for peace. These series of actions against the President, was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize is expected to also put the future.
In Japan, New Komeito administration's neoliberal policies, have reached a critical point and citizen dissatisfaction with the widening
gap between the lines as a result, achieved a historic victory for Democrats in the House of Representatives election last August,
finally, regime change 起Korimashi or. Legal remedies for human rights violations and to grant local suffrage to foreign residents by
the (temporary name) has climbed the political agenda has been established for. Social Democratic party coalition government of
national Democrats, now, whether we move toward real peace, human rights aimed at protecting the environment, depends on
whether you go through how aggressively we individual citizens I think that's true. The elections will be held this summer, seems to
be the first test. Continue, I think the big opportunity and also local council elections.
By the way, in Osaka, led by Governor Toru Hashimoto, who is an own goal and has become only the fiscal reform, has promoted a
policy still lacks a culture of health care and welfare rights . Business and also support for a project commissioned by the Institute,
and finally to nil last year, was forced to institute a financial bind specifically. Research Institute, the reform measures from the year
before last kneading under such circumstances, be subsequently transferred to the implementation, more drastic, "reform plan"
formulated to give the best we have to realize it.
This year, to clarify the future of the new age appropriate laboratory, collaboration and coordination with each other friendship groups
and people, we intend to further reform goes to embody it.
This year too please, thank you for your support and encouragement to Tamawarimasu further.
Click here to read more »
01 January 2010
Welcome to 2010
Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Institute director Nobuaki 長寺 Thurs
Happy New Year!
Past year, the effort you for your cooperation and Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research, We very much appreciate. More by
your support everyone who was able to gradually overcome by promoting reform within the financial crisis since the beginning of the
Institute. Let me take this opportunity, I thank.
Now, the global economic crisis caused by the collapse of the U.S. sub-prime loans occurred in the fall two years ago continues with
no improvement. Sent off, dismissal, corporate bankruptcy, has been the progress of society and become a serious gap. In Japanese
society, these more than 30,000 suicides annually in more than 10 years ranging and serious human rights violations on the net, the
situation is still serious.
In this dark social conditions continued in January last year in the United States became the first black president, forcing non-
cooperation between human rights violations against peaceful anti-environment by sheer force of military power as the Bush
administration The United States has, and great shifting. The Obama last year, in a speech in Prague, we say a step toward elimination
of nuclear weapons depth, gave encouragement to many people wish for peace. These series of actions against the President, was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize is expected to also put the future.
In Japan, New Komeito administration's neoliberal policies, have reached a critical point and citizen dissatisfaction with the widening
gap between the lines as a result, achieved a historic victory for Democrats in the House of Representatives election last August,
finally, regime change 起Korimashi or. Legal remedies for human rights violations and to grant local suffrage to foreign residents by
the (temporary name) has climbed the political agenda has been established for. Social Democratic party coalition government of
national Democrats, now, whether we move toward real peace, human rights aimed at protecting the environment, depends on
whether you go through how aggressively we individual citizens I think that's true. The elections will be held this summer, seems to
be the first test. Continue, I think the big opportunity and also local council elections.
By the way, in Osaka, led by Governor Toru Hashimoto, who is an own goal and has become only the fiscal reform, has promoted a
policy still lacks a culture of health care and welfare rights . Business and also support for a project commissioned by the Institute,
and finally to nil last year, was forced to institute a financial bind specifically. Research Institute, the reform measures from the year
before last kneading under such circumstances, be subsequently transferred to the implementation, more drastic, "reform plan"
formulated to give the best we have to realize it.
This year, to clarify the future of the new age appropriate laboratory, collaboration and coordination with each other friendship groups
and people, we intend to further reform goes to embody it.
This year too please, thank you for your support and encouragement to Tamawarimasu further.
Click here to read more »
The first signs of civilization and stable living patterns appeared around 10,000 BC with the Jōmon culture, characterized
by a mesolithic to neolithic semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer lifestyle of wood stilt house and pit dwelling and a
rudimentary form of agriculture. Weaving was still unknown and clothes were often made of bark. Bear worship was
common, as many place names still today have the word "kuma" (bear) in them. Around that time, however, the Jomon
people started to make clay vessels, decorated with patterns made by impressing the wet clay with braided or unbraided
cord and sticks (Jōmon means "patterns of plaited cord"). The start of the Yayoi period around 300 BC marked the
influx of new practices such as rice farming, shamanism and iron and bronze-making brought by migrants (i.e. Yayoi-jin)
from outside of Japan. Yamato polity was the main ruling power in Japan from the middle of the 3rd century until 710.
The Kofun period (mid 3rd century - mid 6th century), is defined by a tumulus-building culture; the keyhole-shaped
tumuli are called kofun. The Asuka period (mid 6th century - 710), is defined as the time in which the capital was in
Asuka, near present-day Nara. During the 5th and 6th centuries, there was much contact between the Korean kingdoms
such as Baekje and the Yamato state. Some of the results of this contact were the introduction of Buddhism to Japan by
people from Baekje, and military support given by the Yamato state to Baekje. Buddhism was introduced to Japan by
Baekje, to which Japan provided military support and promoted by the ruling class. Starting with the Taika Reform
Edicts of 645, Japanese intensified the adoption of Chinese cultural practices and reorganized the government and the
penal code in accordance with the Chinese administrative structure (the Ritsuryo state) of the time. This paved the way
for the dominance of Confucian philosophy in Japan until the 19th century. The Nara period of the 8th century marked
the first emergence of a strong Japanese state. Historical writing in Japan culminated in the early 8th century with the
massive chronicles, the Kojiki (The Record of Ancient Matters, 712) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan, 720).
For most of Japan's history, actual political power has not been in the hands of the emperor, but in the hands of the court
nobility, the shoguns, the military and, more recently, the prime minister. The Heian period, lasting from 794 to 1185, is
the final period of classical Japanese history. It is considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its
art, especially in poetry and literature. The "feudal" period of Japanese history, dominated by the powerful regional
families (daimyo) and the military rule of warlords (shogun), stretched from the twelfth through the nineteenth centuries.
The Emperor remained but was (mostly) kept to a de jure figurehead ruling position. This time is usually divided into
periods following the reigning family of the shogun. In about 1542, a Portuguese ship, blown off its course to China,
landed in Japan. Firearms introduced by Portuguese would bring the major innovation to Sengoku period culminating in
the Battle of Nagashino where reportedly 3,000 arquebuses (the actual number is believed to be around 2,000) cut
down charging ranks of samurai. During the following years, traders from Portugal, the Netherlands, England, and Spain
arrived, as did Jesuit, Dominican, and Franciscan missionaries. After having united Japan, Hideyoshi invaded Korea,
however, after unsuccessful campaigns toward the allied forces of Korea and China and his death, his forces retreated
from the Korean peninsula. During the early part of the 17th century, the shogunate suspected that the traders and
missionaries were actually forerunners of a military conquest by European powers. This caused the shogunate to place
foreigners under progressively tighter restrictions. It monopolized foreign policy, and expelled traders, missionaries, and
foreigners, with the exception of the Dutch and the Chinese merchants restricted to the manmade island of Dejima in
Nagasaki Bay and several small trading outposts outside the country. However, during this period of isolation (sakoku)
that began in 1641, Japan was much less cut off from the rest of the world than is commonly assumed, and some
acquisition of western knowledge occurred under the Rangaku system. Russian encroachments from the north led the
shogunate to extend direct rule to Hokkaidō, Sakhalin and the Kuriles in 1807 but the policy of exclusion continued.
This policy of isolation lasted for more than 200 years, until, on July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S.
Navy with four warships: the Mississippi, Plymouth, Saratoga, and Susquehanna, steamed into the bay at Edo, old
Tokyo, and displayed the threatening power of his ships' cannon. He demanded that Japan open to trade with the West.
These ships became known as the kurofune, the Black Ships. The following year, at the Convention of Kanagawa on
March 31, 1854, Perry returned with seven ships and forced the Shogun to sign the "Treaty of Peace and Amity,"
establishing formal diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States. Within five years Japan had signed similar
treaties with other western countries.It was tensions over Korea and Manchuria, respectively, that led Japan to become
involved in the first Sino-Japanese War with China in 1894-1895 and the Russo-Japanese War with Russia in 1904-
1905. In a manner perhaps reminiscent of its participation in quelling the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century,
Japan entered World War I and declared war on the Central Powers. Though Japan's role in World War I was limited
largely to attacking German colonial outposts in East Asia, it took advantage of the opportunity to expand its influence in
Asia and its territorial holdings in the Pacific. During the 1920s, Japan progressed toward a democratic system of
government in a movement known as 'Taisho Democracy'. However, parliamentary government was not rooted deeply
enough to withstand the economic and political pressures of the late 1920s and 1930s, during which military leaders
became increasingly influential. Under the pretense of the Manchurian Incident, Lieutenant Colonel Kanji Ishiwara
invaded Inner (Chinese) Manchuria in 1931, an action the Japanese government mandated with the creation of the
puppet state of Manchukuo under the last Manchu emperor, Pu Yi. As a result of international condemnation of the
incident, Japan resigned from the League of Nations in 1933.As a result of public outcry over Japanese aggression and
reports of atrocities in China, such as the infamous Nanjing Massacre, the U.S. began an embargo on such goods as
petroleum products and scrap iron in 1940. On July 25, 1941, all Japanese assets in the US were frozen. The attack on
Pearl Harbor occurred December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). At the same time, the Japanese army attacked
colonial Hong Kong and occupied it for nearly four years. After almost 4 years of war resulting in the loss of 3 million
Japanese lives, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the daily air raids on Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya,
Yokohama, the destruction of all other major cities (except Kyoto, Nara, and Kamakura, for their historical
importance), and finally the Soviet Union's declaration of war on Japan the day before the second atomic bomb was
dropped, Japan signed an instrument of surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbor on September 2, 1945. Japan
lost all of its overseas possessions and retained only the home islands. After the war, Japan was placed under
international control of the Allies through the Supreme Commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Entering the Cold War
with the Korean War, Japan came to be seen as an important ally of the US government. From the 1950s to the 1980s,
Japan's history consists mainly of its rapid development into a first-rank economic power, through a process often
referred to as the "economic miracle". The economic miracle ended abruptly at the very start of the 1990s. In the late
1980s, abnormalities within the Japanese economic system had fueled a massive wave of speculation by Japanese
companies, banks and securities companies. Unemployment ran reasonably high, but not at crisis levels. The official
figure is a little under 5%, but this is a considerable underestimate — the actual situation would probably be around 10%.
This has combined with the traditional Japanese emphasis on frugality and saving (saving money is a cultural habit in
Japan) to produce a quite limited effect on the average Japanese family, which continues much as it did in the period of
the miracle.
Sources: Wikipedia: History of Japan
by a mesolithic to neolithic semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer lifestyle of wood stilt house and pit dwelling and a
rudimentary form of agriculture. Weaving was still unknown and clothes were often made of bark. Bear worship was
common, as many place names still today have the word "kuma" (bear) in them. Around that time, however, the Jomon
people started to make clay vessels, decorated with patterns made by impressing the wet clay with braided or unbraided
cord and sticks (Jōmon means "patterns of plaited cord"). The start of the Yayoi period around 300 BC marked the
influx of new practices such as rice farming, shamanism and iron and bronze-making brought by migrants (i.e. Yayoi-jin)
from outside of Japan. Yamato polity was the main ruling power in Japan from the middle of the 3rd century until 710.
The Kofun period (mid 3rd century - mid 6th century), is defined by a tumulus-building culture; the keyhole-shaped
tumuli are called kofun. The Asuka period (mid 6th century - 710), is defined as the time in which the capital was in
Asuka, near present-day Nara. During the 5th and 6th centuries, there was much contact between the Korean kingdoms
such as Baekje and the Yamato state. Some of the results of this contact were the introduction of Buddhism to Japan by
people from Baekje, and military support given by the Yamato state to Baekje. Buddhism was introduced to Japan by
Baekje, to which Japan provided military support and promoted by the ruling class. Starting with the Taika Reform
Edicts of 645, Japanese intensified the adoption of Chinese cultural practices and reorganized the government and the
penal code in accordance with the Chinese administrative structure (the Ritsuryo state) of the time. This paved the way
for the dominance of Confucian philosophy in Japan until the 19th century. The Nara period of the 8th century marked
the first emergence of a strong Japanese state. Historical writing in Japan culminated in the early 8th century with the
massive chronicles, the Kojiki (The Record of Ancient Matters, 712) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan, 720).
For most of Japan's history, actual political power has not been in the hands of the emperor, but in the hands of the court
nobility, the shoguns, the military and, more recently, the prime minister. The Heian period, lasting from 794 to 1185, is
the final period of classical Japanese history. It is considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its
art, especially in poetry and literature. The "feudal" period of Japanese history, dominated by the powerful regional
families (daimyo) and the military rule of warlords (shogun), stretched from the twelfth through the nineteenth centuries.
The Emperor remained but was (mostly) kept to a de jure figurehead ruling position. This time is usually divided into
periods following the reigning family of the shogun. In about 1542, a Portuguese ship, blown off its course to China,
landed in Japan. Firearms introduced by Portuguese would bring the major innovation to Sengoku period culminating in
the Battle of Nagashino where reportedly 3,000 arquebuses (the actual number is believed to be around 2,000) cut
down charging ranks of samurai. During the following years, traders from Portugal, the Netherlands, England, and Spain
arrived, as did Jesuit, Dominican, and Franciscan missionaries. After having united Japan, Hideyoshi invaded Korea,
however, after unsuccessful campaigns toward the allied forces of Korea and China and his death, his forces retreated
from the Korean peninsula. During the early part of the 17th century, the shogunate suspected that the traders and
missionaries were actually forerunners of a military conquest by European powers. This caused the shogunate to place
foreigners under progressively tighter restrictions. It monopolized foreign policy, and expelled traders, missionaries, and
foreigners, with the exception of the Dutch and the Chinese merchants restricted to the manmade island of Dejima in
Nagasaki Bay and several small trading outposts outside the country. However, during this period of isolation (sakoku)
that began in 1641, Japan was much less cut off from the rest of the world than is commonly assumed, and some
acquisition of western knowledge occurred under the Rangaku system. Russian encroachments from the north led the
shogunate to extend direct rule to Hokkaidō, Sakhalin and the Kuriles in 1807 but the policy of exclusion continued.
This policy of isolation lasted for more than 200 years, until, on July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S.
Navy with four warships: the Mississippi, Plymouth, Saratoga, and Susquehanna, steamed into the bay at Edo, old
Tokyo, and displayed the threatening power of his ships' cannon. He demanded that Japan open to trade with the West.
These ships became known as the kurofune, the Black Ships. The following year, at the Convention of Kanagawa on
March 31, 1854, Perry returned with seven ships and forced the Shogun to sign the "Treaty of Peace and Amity,"
establishing formal diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States. Within five years Japan had signed similar
treaties with other western countries.It was tensions over Korea and Manchuria, respectively, that led Japan to become
involved in the first Sino-Japanese War with China in 1894-1895 and the Russo-Japanese War with Russia in 1904-
1905. In a manner perhaps reminiscent of its participation in quelling the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century,
Japan entered World War I and declared war on the Central Powers. Though Japan's role in World War I was limited
largely to attacking German colonial outposts in East Asia, it took advantage of the opportunity to expand its influence in
Asia and its territorial holdings in the Pacific. During the 1920s, Japan progressed toward a democratic system of
government in a movement known as 'Taisho Democracy'. However, parliamentary government was not rooted deeply
enough to withstand the economic and political pressures of the late 1920s and 1930s, during which military leaders
became increasingly influential. Under the pretense of the Manchurian Incident, Lieutenant Colonel Kanji Ishiwara
invaded Inner (Chinese) Manchuria in 1931, an action the Japanese government mandated with the creation of the
puppet state of Manchukuo under the last Manchu emperor, Pu Yi. As a result of international condemnation of the
incident, Japan resigned from the League of Nations in 1933.As a result of public outcry over Japanese aggression and
reports of atrocities in China, such as the infamous Nanjing Massacre, the U.S. began an embargo on such goods as
petroleum products and scrap iron in 1940. On July 25, 1941, all Japanese assets in the US were frozen. The attack on
Pearl Harbor occurred December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). At the same time, the Japanese army attacked
colonial Hong Kong and occupied it for nearly four years. After almost 4 years of war resulting in the loss of 3 million
Japanese lives, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the daily air raids on Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya,
Yokohama, the destruction of all other major cities (except Kyoto, Nara, and Kamakura, for their historical
importance), and finally the Soviet Union's declaration of war on Japan the day before the second atomic bomb was
dropped, Japan signed an instrument of surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbor on September 2, 1945. Japan
lost all of its overseas possessions and retained only the home islands. After the war, Japan was placed under
international control of the Allies through the Supreme Commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Entering the Cold War
with the Korean War, Japan came to be seen as an important ally of the US government. From the 1950s to the 1980s,
Japan's history consists mainly of its rapid development into a first-rank economic power, through a process often
referred to as the "economic miracle". The economic miracle ended abruptly at the very start of the 1990s. In the late
1980s, abnormalities within the Japanese economic system had fueled a massive wave of speculation by Japanese
companies, banks and securities companies. Unemployment ran reasonably high, but not at crisis levels. The official
figure is a little under 5%, but this is a considerable underestimate — the actual situation would probably be around 10%.
This has combined with the traditional Japanese emphasis on frugality and saving (saving money is a cultural habit in
Japan) to produce a quite limited effect on the average Japanese family, which continues much as it did in the period of
the miracle.
Sources: Wikipedia: History of Japan
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Naruhito
Crown Prince since 7 July 1989
Crown Prince since 7 July 1989
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) |
None reported.
