Location: Japan, an archipelago of E. coast of Asia, consists of four main islands, Honshu (Mainland), Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku and a number of smaller islands of which Okinawa is one. Japan has a deeply indented coastline measuring 26,600 km. Main ports are Yokohama, Kobe, Nagoya and Osaka. There are about 60 more or less active volcanoes of which the best known is Mount Aso. The famous Mount Fuji is not active.

History: Legend has it that the Japanese Empire was founded by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC. In A.D. 1868 Emperor Meiji united the whole of Japan under his rule. Japan had little trade relations with foreign countries until 1871 when it entered into a trade treaty with USA. After the feudal system was abolished, westernization set in. In 1952, Japan regained its sovereignty. Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 raised her prestige among European powers.

Agriculture: Rice, the staple food of Japan, is cultivated in half the area of arable land. Other crops are wheat, barley, potatoes and tobacco. Except for limestone and sulphur, Japan is poor in minerals and Japanese industry is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuel.

Industry: Japan, one of the most industrially advanced countries of the world, is a leader in Technology and the world's second richest country. The principal industries are automobiles, iron and steel, chemicals, textiles (cotton, wool, silk and synthetics), fishing, ceramics, precision instruments, fertilizers, machinery and shipbuilding. Japan has evolved an extensive fishing industry.

Japanese women have been the world's longest lived since 1985 and Japanese men since 1986. In April 1997, Japanese cabinet approved a bill allowing US bases to continue to use land in Okinawa, a key military foothold in East Asia.

Mission in India:
Embassy of Japan
50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi - 110 021, India
Tel: 91 - 11 - 26876581, 26876564
Fax: 91 - 11 - 26885587
Email: jpprocol@nda.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.japan-emb.org.in

Cultural & Information Centre:
32, Feroz Shah Road
New Delhi - 110 001
Tel: 91 - 11 - 3329803

Indian Mission in Japan:
Embassy of India
2-2-11, Kudan-Minami
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo - 102, Japan
Tel: 00 - 81 - 3 - 32622391 to 97
Fax: 00 - 81 - 3 - 32344866
Email: indembjp@gol.com