Location:

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Area:

377,835 sq km

Climate:

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain:

mostly rugged and mountainous

Population:

126,182,077 (July 1999 est.)

Religions:

observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Languages:

Japanese

Capital:

Tokyo