Japan
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 and 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. The economy experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth. The 1997 Asian financial crisis, and bouts of recession, precipitated major banking, public spending and private sector reforms.
Japan's role on the world stage is considerable. It is a major aid donor and a source of global capital and credit. Japan's relations with its neighbors, however, are still heavily influenced by the legacy of Japanese actions before and during World War II. Japan has found it difficult to accept and atone for its treatment of the citizens of countries it occupied. A Japanese court caused outrage by overturning a compensation order for Korean women forced to work as sex slaves. South Korea and China have also protested that Japanese school history books gloss over atrocities committed by the Japanese military, and strongly protested high-profile visits by Japanese leading politicians to the controversial Yasukuni shrine, which honors the country's war dead.
The deployment of Japanese troops in Iraq following the US-led invasion in 2003 divided public opinion. Critics said the move violated the country's pacifist constitution.
The head of state is Emperor Akihito, who succeeded his father, Hirohito, in 1989.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe succeeded Junichiro Koizumi both as premier and head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in September 2006. He was the former chief cabinet secretary. Analysts expect the conservative Abe to pursue economic reforms and spending cuts - policies that his predecessor set in motion. He advocates a more assertive role for Japan on the world stage and backs a tighter alliance with the US. He says he wants to rewrite the 1947 pacifist constitution.
Japan is a generally safe destination for travelers and for expatriate residents.
Leaders of the Aum Shinrikyo cult (now known as Aleph) responsible for the March 1995 nerve gas attack on a Tokyo subway were arrested and incarcerated, while the leader was sentenced to death. The cult was substantially disrupted.
Groups associated with both the right and left wings exercise their rights to demonstrate on domestic and foreign issues. The occasional demonstrations, while sometimes boisterous, are generally peaceful and controlled events with ample police coverage.
The quality of the Japanese police services is excellent and effectively employs the community-policing concept. Japanese security forces are proactive in crime prevention and are vigilant toward potential increase in activity by extremists.
