transportation

There are service workers who actually push you on the train because there is not enough space. The trains are overcrowded. many people use trains or walking for transportation.

jobs in Japan

Jobs in Japan - Traditionally, Japan has had strict laws regarding the employment of foreigners, although exceptions were made for certain occupational categories. Excepted categories have included executives and managers engaged in commercial activities, full-time scholars associated with research and education institutions, professional entertainers, engineers and others specializing in advanced technology, foreign-language teachers, and others with special skills unavailable among Japanese nationals.

The most common jobs available for foreigners in Japan are English teaching jobs. English teachers are well paid and accommodation, flights and health insurance is often included in the benefits package.

http://www.esljobproject.com/esl_info/jobs-in-japan.html

trash in Japan

In Japan, garbage is basically separated into burnable, non burnable and recyclable items. At least two kinds of liter boxes can, therefore, be found in most households and in public places. The exact definition of what is burnable, non burnable and recyclable depends on the municipality.

Garbage collection days and hours depend on the area you live in. Signs in the neighborhood inform residents about the weekdays on which what type of garbage is collected. Burnable garbage is usually collected on two or three days during the week, while non burnable garbage is usually collected once a week.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2222.html

economy

Government bonds fell, sending 10-year yields one basis point higher to 1.29 percent at 12:20 p.m. in Tokyo. The yen traded at 89.82, unchanged from late yesterday and weaker than the eight-month high of 88.01 reached on Oct. 7.

http://information.com/link?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3fpid=20601087&sid=a_jsUBH352fg&keyword=economy%20in%20japan&cat=1&brand=1&title=Japan&%2339%3bs%20Economy%20Shrank%20Record%2015.2%25%20Last%20Quarter%20(Update2%20...&desc=

economy

The economy of Japan is the second largest economy in the world,^[1] after the United States at around US$5 trillion in terms of nominal GDP^[1] and third after the United States and People's Republic of China when adjusted for purchasing power parity.^[2] The workers of Japan rank 18th in the world in GDP per hour worked as of 2006.^[3] The Big Mac Index shows that the wages in Tokyo are the highest among principal cities in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Japan

economy

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 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, was completed in October 2007, marking a major milestone in the process of structural reform. 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. Japan's huge government debt, which totals 170% of GDP, and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. Debate continues on the role of and effects of reform in restructuring the economy.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html

economy+population

The economy will not be able to get enough skilled work force for its manufacturing and services sectors. Labour would become costlier, increasing the cost of production. There will be more elders to tend, straining the medical and pension systems. The social sector expenditure by the Government will have to increase. By 2025, it is expected that there will be two dependents for every three workers. A drastic fall indeed from 1:12 in the year 1950. The dwindling work force would also result in lower purchasing power and reduced demand for goods and services. The domestic market will shrink, production will fall, as will the Government’s revenue, forcing it to manage higher medical and pension expenses with a lower income.

The demand for all the goods consumed by children will fall. Also, the demand for goods consumed by adults at the behest of children would also fall. Who will sell and buy all the chocolates, and confectioneries, schoolbooks and pen and pencils, toys, games? Where will the amusement parks and sports clubs look for their customers? Already there is talk that a number of schools have been closed for want of enough children. The whole situation would get into a vicious circle of low demand and lower supplies.

http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles/Japans-population.asp

economy in Japan, China

http://thesouthasianidea.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/is-overpopulation-the-cause-of-poverty/

Japan and China both have relatively small endowments of such land while the latter has the largest population in the world. Yet Japan, despite its relative lack of natural resources, is amongst the richest countries in the world. And China has been recording very high economic growth rates for many years lifting millions of its people out of poverty. The simple proposition fails to explain much of what has been going on in these two countries either.

good facts

• Japan gets hit by more than one thousand earthquakes every year. Most of them are minor, but some cause serious damage.
• Every year, Japanese schools hold sports festivals (undokai) in which students compete in various sports, races, and other activities. During these competitions, all of the students wear matching baseball caps.
• Sumo wrestlers eat huge meals to gain weight so they can topple the opponent in the ring. The elaborate ceremonies before the match are usually longer than the actual competition.
• Following World War II, Japan adopted a constitution that doesn’t allow the country to have an army.
• Karaoke singing is a favorite way to spend free time.
• Small pets such as fish, dogs (small breeds such as Chihuahuas or toy poodles) and stag beetles (large beetles with jaws that look like antlers) are popular.
• Japan has some 400,000 robots—more than any other country in the world. They work in factories, hospitals, and rescue operations.

• In the past five years, the number of Japanese over one hundred years old has doubled to more than 20,000.

http://online.culturegrams.com/kids/kids_country.php?contid=3&wmn=Asia&cid=26&cn=Japan

good facts

Mount Fuji, located west of Tokyo on Honshu Island, is Japan's highest point, with an elevation of 12,388 feet (3,776 meters). Japan has one of the world's largest economies even though it has few natural resources and must import most raw materials. Japanese weddings can be elaborate and expensive. Marriage ceremonies usually take place in hotels. Baseball is Japan's most popular sport.

pie chart about land use

http://www.international.ucla.edu/eas/japan/geography/landuse2.htm

Use Share of Japan's Land Forest 66% Agricultural 14% Other 8% Residential 4% Water (lakes, canals, rivers) 4% Roads 3% Wilderness 1%

japans economy

Japan is the second richest country in the world. but in the past 2 years the money has decreased a bit. Japan lost about 40 billion U.S. dollars in 2007.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_economy_of_Japan_like&alreadyAsked=1&rtitle=Economy_in_Japan

hotel capsules in japan

http://information.com/link?url=http://www.insidejapantours.com/content-151/&keyword=%20hotel%20capsules%20in%20japan&cat=1&brand=1&title=Capsule%20Hotels%20in%20Japan&desc=

Capsule Hotels were invented in the 1970s by the Japanese architect Kurokawa Kisho who modified a shipping container to make a space-saving one-man room complete with TV, radio and alarm clock. The original aim of the design was to provide very economical housing for businessmen who would work in central Tokyo during the week before returning home to their wives and families in the surrounding countryside at weekends.

The first ever capsule hotel building built for actual use is to be found in the Ginza area of Tokyo. Designed by Kurokawa and completed in 1972 the The Nagakin Capsule Tower (pictured below, right) is 14 stories high with 140 capsules all clustered around two cores, each with a diagonally sloping roof and pointed top. This doesn't make a lot of sense until you actually see the building with it's bizarre exterior of crate like rooms stacked at curious angles on top of one another.

Today's capsules are every different each measuring about two metres by one metre by one metre and but still retaining the radio/alarm clocks and TVs which often show nothing besides adult movies at a rate of 100 yen for 5 minutes. The hotels are vast with many hundreds of capsules providing convenient beds for those drunken business men who didn't quite make the last train home. Each floor tends to have large bathhouses and the salaryman banter can be quite entertaining as they scrub up and sober up. If you pay one a visit for a night you are sure to strike up some interesting conversations! Some capsule hotels also have separate floors for women although this is not common.

flag of japan

http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?contid=3&wmn=Asia&cid=82&cn=Japan

The flag of Japan, most recently adopted on 13 August 1999, is called Hinomaru, or “the Rising Sun.” Inspired by Japan's beautiful ocean sunrises, the flag's design uses a large red circle to depict the sun.

information about climate

http://go.grolier.com/

In japan, the summers are cool and the winters are cold and long.
It gets warmer in the south. Tokyo averages 3° C (38° F) in January. It gets very cold in the winter.
Certain places have more harsh weather than others- northeast coast gets more winter precipitation than other places in japan.

The average amount of precipitation so inches, per year.
(the mountains can receive up to 100 inches)
The ocean and rainstorms makes moisture and mist in the air.

FACT:
Typhoons occur from late August to early October.

info. about mountains

About 75% of Japan's land is mountainous and too steep for easy cultivation and settlement. The principal mountain ranges follow fault lines of great geologic complexity. There several peaks rise to more than 3,050 m (10,000 ft).

Information from http://go.grolier.com/