ÿþ<html> <head> <title> Japan Government 2012, CIA World Factbook </title> <META NAME="Description" CONTENT="Japan Government 2012, CIA World Factbook"> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="Japan, Government, 2012, CIA, World, Factbook"> <script language="JavaScript"> function AddToFaves_hp(){ var is_4up = parseInt(navigator.appVersion); var is_mac = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("mac")!=-1; var is_ie = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("msie")!=-1; var thePage = location.href; if (thePage.lastIndexOf('#')!=-1) thePage = thePage.substring(0,thePage.lastIndexOf('#')); if (is_ie && is_4up && !is_mac) window.external.AddFavorite(thePage,document.title); else if (is_ie || document.images) booker_hp = window.open(thePage,'booker_','menubar,width=325,height=100,left=140,top=60'); //booker_hp.focus(); } //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; 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/* WFB Leaderboard */ google_ad_slot = "7548094546"; google_ad_width = 728; google_ad_height = 90; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td></tr> <tr height="3" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="white" nowrap units="pixels"><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" height="3" width="972" nowrap bgcolor="white" nowrap> <img src="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/line1.gif"></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="middle" background="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/light_blue.gif" width="972"> <font size="-2"> <br></font> <font face="arial" size="5"><b>Japan</b> Government 2012</font> <br> <font size = "-2"> http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/japan/japan_government.html </font> <br> <font size="-2"><B>SOURCE: 2012 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES</B></FONT></td></tr> <tr height="3" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="white" nowrap units="pixels"> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" height="3" width="972" nowrap bgcolor="white" nowrap> <img src="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/line13.gif"></td></tr></table> <table border="0" bgcolor="#FFCC99" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="972" align="left" valign="top" hspace="0" vspace="0" units="pixels"> <tr><td background="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/light_blue.gif" width="200" valign="top"> <font face="arial"> <br><br> <center> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-7437757543052749"; 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/* WFB Large Rectangle */ google_ad_slot = "8137512903"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> <br> Page last updated on February 23, <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#country_name">Country name:</a></b><br> <i>conventional long form:</i> none <br><i>conventional short form:</i> Japan <br><i>local long form:</i> Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku <br><i>local short form:</i> Nihon/Nippon <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#government_type">Government type:</a></b><br> a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#capital">Capital:</a></b><br> <i>name:</i> Tokyo <br><i>geographic coordinates:</i> 35 41 N, 139 45 E <br><i>time difference:</i> UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#administrative_divisions">Administrative divisions:</a></b><br> 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 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#independence">Independence:</a></b><br> 3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_holiday">National holiday:</a></b><br> Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#constitution">Constitution:</a></b><br> 3 May 1947 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#legal_system">Legal system:</a></b><br> civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#international_law_organization_participation">International law organization participation:</a></b><br> accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#suffrage">Suffrage:</a></b><br> 20 years of age; universal <br>[see also: <a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/population/suffrage_2012_0.html" target="_blank"><u>Suffrage country ranks</u></a> ] <p><b><a href = "japan_chiefs.html">Executive branch</a>:</b><br> <i>chief of state:</i> Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) <br><i>head of government:</i> Prime Minister Yoshihiko NODA (since 30 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya OKADA (13 January 2012) <br><i>cabinet:</i> Cabinet is appointed by the prime minister <br><i>elections:</i> Diet designates the prime minister; constitution requires that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, the leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#legislative_branch">Legislative branch:</a></b><br> bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for fixed 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 maximum four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs); the prime minister has the right to dissolve the House of Representatives at any time with the concurrence of the cabinet <br><i>elections:</i> House of Councillors - last held on 11 July 2010 (next to be held in July 2013); House of Representatives - last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held by August 2013) <br><i>election results:</i> House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - DPJ 31.6%, LDP 24.1%, YP 13.6%, NK 13.1%, JCP 6.1%, SDP 3.8%, others 7.7%; seats by party - DPJ 106, LDP 84, NK 19, YP 11, JCP 6, SDP 4, others 12 <div class="category_data" style="padding-top: 3px;">House of Representatives - percent of vote by party (by proportional representation) - DPJ 42.4%, LDP 26.7%, NK 11.5%, JCP 7.0%, SDP 4.3%, others 8.1%; seats by party - DPJ 308, LDP 119, NK 21, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 16 (2009) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#judicial_branch">Judicial branch:</a></b><br> Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#political_parties_and_leaders">Political parties and leaders:</a></b><br> Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Yoshihiko NODA]; Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Sadakazu TANIGAKI]; New Komeito or NK [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]; People's New Party or PNP [Shizuka KAMEI]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho FUKUSHIMA]; Your Party or YP [Yoshimi WATANABE] <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#political_pressure_groups_and_leaders">Political pressure groups and leaders:</a></b><br> <i>other:</i> business groups; trade unions <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/abbreviations.html">International organization participation</a>:</b><br> ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#diplomatic_representation_in_the_us">Diplomatic representation in the US:</a></b><br> <i>chief of mission:</i> Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI <br><i>chancery:</i> 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 <br><i>telephone:</i> [1] (202) 238-6700 <br><i>FAX:</i> [1] (202) 328-2187 <br><i>consulate(s) general:</i> Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle <br><i>consulate(s):</i> Anchorage, Nashville <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#diplomatic_representation_from_the_us">Diplomatic representation from the US:</a></b><br> <i>chief of mission:</i> Ambassador John V. ROOS <br><i>embassy:</i> 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 <br><i>mailing address:</i> Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300 <br><i>telephone:</i> [81] (03) 3224-5000 <br><i>FAX:</i> [81] (03) 3505-1862 <br><i>consulate(s) general:</i> Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo <br><i>consulate(s):</i> Fukuoka, Nagoya <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/flags/">Flag</a> description:</b><br> white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_symbol">National symbol(s):</a></b><br> red sun disc; chrysanthemum <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_anthem">National anthem:</a></b><br> <i>name:</i> "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign) <div id="mediaplayer" style="height: 23px;"> <script type="text/javascript" src="jwplayer.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> jwplayer("mediaplayer").setup({ 'flashplayer' : "player.swf", 'file': "../anthems/JA.mp3", 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '370', 'height': '23' }); </script> <br><i>lyrics/music:</i> unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI <br><i> <em>note:</em></i> adopted 1999; in use as unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor </font> <p> <p> <BR> <P> <font size = "-2"><B> NOTE: The information regarding Japan on this page is re-published from the 2012 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Japan Government 2012 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Japan Government 2012 should be addressed to the CIA. </B></font> </P> <br> <hr> <a href="#" onClick="AddToFaves_hp()"><img src="http://www.theodora.com/images/bookmark_banner.gif" align="left" width="176" height="52" border="0"></a><font color=brown> - Please bookmark this page (add it to your favorites). <br> - If you wish to <b>link</b> to this page, you can do so by referring to the URL address below this line.</font> <hr> http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/japan/japan_government.html <br><br> This page was last modified 06-Mar-12 <br> Copyright &copy 1995-2012 <a href="http://www.theodora.com/ita.html">ITA</a> all rights reserved. <br> </td> <td width=200 valign="top" align="left" background="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/light_blue.gif"> <!-- SiteSearch Google --> <br> <form action="http://www.google.com/cse" id="cse-search-box"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-7437757543052749:i8v5yg-obf2" /> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1" /> <input type="text" name="q" size="26" /> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" /> </div> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box&lang=en"></script> <!-- End SiteSearch Google --> <font size="2" face="arial"> <b> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.theodora.com/wfb">|Main INDEX|</a> <li><a href="../index.html">2012 INDEX</a> <li><a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/index.html">Country Ranks</a> <li><a href="http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html">DEFINITIONS</a> <br><br> <a href="index.html">Japan Index 2012</a> <br><br> <a href="http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/japan/index.html">Japan Main Index</a> <li><a href="japan_introduction.html">Introduction</a> <li><a href="http://workmall.com/wfb2001/japan/japan_history_index.html">History</a> <li><a href="http://www.photius.com/countries/japan/geography/index.html">Geography</a> <li><a href="http://www.photius.com/countries/japan/climate/japan_climate_climate.html">Climate</a> <li>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theodora.com/maps">Maps</a><br> <li><a href="http://www.photius.com/countries/japan/society/index.html">People</a><br> </b> &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.photius.com/religion">Religion</a> <b><li><a href="http://www.photius.com/countries/japan/government/index.html">Government</a><br></B> &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="japan_chiefs.html"> Gov. 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