2. Origin and Immigration As of March 2009, Japan's population is 127,076,183 Japan is the world's tenth most populated country. Highest life expectancies in the world at 81.25 years of age as of 2006 Japan's population rose for a second year in a row in 2009, mainly because more Japanese returned to Japan than left. Japan's population density is 336 persons per square kilometer. In 2010, the number of foreigners in Japan was 2,134,151. There was 230,552 Brazilians who are mostly of Japanese descent 687,156 Chinese 565,989 Koreans. Koreans, Chinese and Brazilians account for about 69,5% of foreign residents in Japan.

3. In recent years, immigration from Japan has been more like that from Western Europe: low and usually related to marriages between U.S. citizens and Japanese with some via employment preferences. The number is on average 5 to 10 thousand per year

4. Ethnic Identity 98.5% Japanese and 1.5% other. Japanese nationals with multi-ethnic background are considered to be ethnically Japanese in the population census of Japan. Thus, in spite of the widespread belief that Japan is ethnically homogeneous, it is probably more accurate to describe it as a multiethnic society.

5. Education 6-3-3-4 system (6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high school, 3 years of senior high school and 4 years of University) with reference to the American system. Gimukyoiku (compulsory education) time period is 9 years, 6 in shougakkou (elementary school) 3 in chuugakkou (junior high school) Japan has one of the world's best-educated populations, with 100% enrollment in compulsory grades and zero illiteracy. While not compulsory, high school (koukou) enrollment is over 96% nationwide and nearly 100% in the cities. High school drop out rate is about 2% and has been increasing. About 46% of all high school graduates go on to university or junior college.

6. Student Life Most schools operate on a three-term system with the new year starting in April. The fiscal year in Japan also begins in April and ends in March of the following year, it is more convenient in many aspects. April is the height of spring when cherry blossom (the most loved flower of the Japanese!) bloom and a most suitable time for a new start in Japan. This difference in the school-year system causes some inconvenience to students who wish to study abroad in the U.S. A half year is wasted waiting to get in and often another year is wasted when coming back to the Japanese university because of having to repeat a year. Except for the lower grades of elementary school, it is usual to average 6 hours of school a day on weekdays, one of the longest school days in the world. Even after school lets out, the children have drills and other homework to keep them busy.

7. Vacations are 6 weeks in the summer and about 2 weeks each for winter and spring breaks. There is often homework over these vacations. Every class has its own fixed classroom where its students take all the courses, except for practical trainings and laboratory works. During elementary education, in most cases, one teacher teaches all the subjects in each class. At public elementary and junior high school, school lunch (kyuushoku) is provided on a standardized menu, and it is eaten in the same classroom. Nearly all junior high schools require their students to wear the school uniforms (seifuku). A great difference between Japanese school system and American School system is, the American respects independence and the Japanese control individual responsibility by observing the group rules. This explains the Japanese characteristic of group behavior.

8. Japanese Exports Of the $148.1 billion in American imports from Japan in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values. Top Japanese Imports & Exports in 2007 Top Japanese Trade Partners in 2010 Japan's Exports Lag US Imports in 2008 TOP ELEVEN EXPORTS 1.Passenger cars …US$43.5 billion (29.4% of Japan to U.S. exports, up 23.8% from 2005) 2.Car parts & accessories … $10.4 billion (7%, down 6.2%) 3.Other industrial machinery … $5.7 billion (3.8%, up 11%) 4.Computer accessories … $5.4 billion (3.6%, down 1.9%) 5.Video equipment (e.g. DVD players) … $4.9 billion (3.3%, down 14.5%) 6.Electric apparatus & parts … $4.1 billion (2.7%, up 0.2%) 7.Engines & parts … $4.0 billion (2.7%, down 8.8%) 8.Machine tools … $3.8 billion (2.5%, up 17.3%) 9.Semi-conductors … $3.4 billion (2.3%, up 16.8%) 10.Excavating, paving & construction machinery … $3.38 billion (2.3%, up 12.9%) 11.Motorcycles & parts … $3.1 billion (2.1%, up 5.4%)

9. Facts Raw horse meat is a popular food in Japan. Sometimes the trains are so crowded railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside. More than 70% of Japan consists of mountains, including more than 200 volcanoes. (Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, is an active volcano.) Coffee is very popular and Japan imports approximately 85% of Jamaica's annual coffee Sumo is Japan's national sport, although baseball is also very popular. Vending machines in Japan sell beer, hot and cold canned coffee, cigarettes, and other items.