Japan

Background

While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world, as well as a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives.

One notable characteristic of the economy, Keiretsu (the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groups), has been eroding over time, along with the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller 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.

The Japanese economy experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s, following three decades of unprecedented growth. 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. Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (0.8% of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most technologically powerful economy in the world (after the US) and third largest economy in the world (behind the US and China) in 2010.

Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s largely because of the after-effects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s. During the late-2000s financial crisis, the Japanese financial sector was not heavily exposed to sub-prime mortgages or their derivative instruments and weathered the initial effect of the recent global credit crunch.  A sharp downturn in business investment and global demand for Japan's exports in late 2008, however, pushed Japan further into recession. Devastation from a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami which devastated the northeast coast of Honshu Island on 11 March 2011, coupled with Japan's huge government debt (exceeding 200% of GDP), persistent deflation, reliance on exports to drive growth, and an aging and shrinking population are major long-term challenges for the economy.

Holidays

Jan 1 - New Year's Day(Gantan or Shogatsu)
Jan 2 - Bank Holiday
Jan 3 - Bank Holiday
Jan 10* - Coming of Age Day(Seijin-no-hi)
Feb 11 - National Foundation Day(Kenkoku-kinen-no-hi)
Mar 20 - Vernal Equinox
Apr 29 - Greenery Day(Midori-no-hi)
May 3 - Constitution Memorial Day(Kenpou-kinen-bi)
May 4 - Holiday for a Nation (Kokumin-no-kyujitsu)
May 5 - Children's Day(Kodomo-no-hi)
Jul 18* - Maritime Day(Umi-no-hi)
Aug 6 - Hiroshima Peace Festival (Hiroshima only)
Aug 9 - Nagasaki Memorial Day (Nagasaki only)
Sep 20* - Respect for the Aged Day(Keirou-no-hi)
Sep 23 - Autumnal Equinox
Oct 11* - Health and Sports Day(Taiku-no-hi)
Nov 3 - National Culture Day (Bunka-no-hi)
Nov 23 - Labour Thanksgiving Day(Kinrou-kansha-no-hi)
Dec 23 - Birthday of the Emperor(Tennou-tanjyou-bi)
Dec 31 - Bank Holiday

Ps: These festivals' date(*)given above are approximations which are subject to change every new year. With the exception of New Year Bank Holidays, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day is treated as a holiday instead. When there is a single day between two national holidays, it is also taken as a holiday. Between 29 December and 3 January government offices and many shops and offices are closed.

Phone Codes

Country Code: 81
Outgoing International Code: 001

Resources

Trade Leads

Osaka BPC Trade Leads
Receive latest offers to buy and/or sell goods and services from the Osaka Business Partner City Network. Obtain leads in textiles, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, construction, and foods. Requires free registration.

Market Research

Japan Country Commercial Guide

Japan Trade Resources from Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Japan News

Japan Travel Information

CIA - The World Factbook - Japan
This website indicates a wide range of detail information about Japan by introducing under 8 different fields as its geography,people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, transnational issues.

About Japan
There is available to find out Japan general outlook on the issues of its social and business profile, passport/visa, money, accommodation, government, duty free, health and so forth.

Trade Information

Osaka International Trade Fair Commission (OITFC)
Trade shows in Osaka and Japan

Japanese Government Ministries

International Employment Opportunities

Jobs in Japan
Employment in Japan

Japan Job Guide
Employment in Japan

Gaijinpot-Japan
Employment in Japan

Tokyo Connections- Japan
Employment in Japan

Tariff Schedules