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2023-03-18T12:34:14Z

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{{Icons|B-class|Altverse II}}
{{Infobox ccountry
| conventional_long_name = Japan
| native_name = 日本国 ''Nippon-koku'' or ''Nihon-koku''
| image_flag = Flag of Japan (bordered).svg
| image_map = Japan (orthographic projection altverse).svg
| map_caption = Location of Japan (controlled territory in green, claimed territory in light green)
| image_symbol = Goshichi no kiri.svg
| symbol_type = {{W|Government Seal of Japan}} 五七桐 Go-Shichi no Kiri
| alt_symbol = Government Seal of Japan
| motto =
| national_anthem = ''緑の山河'' (Midori no Sanga)
| royal_anthem =
| capital = {{W|Tokyo}} ({{W|de facto}}) [https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Japan&params=35_41_N_139_46_E_type:city 35°41′N 139°46′E]
| largest_city = {{W|Tokyo}} ({{W|de facto}}) [https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Japan&params=35_41_N_139_46_E_type:city 35°41′N 139°46′E]
| official_languages = {{W|Japanese language|Japanese}} ({{W|de facto}})
| regional_languages =
| demonym = Japanese
| government_type = {{W|Unitary state|Unitary}} {{W|Semi-presidential|semi-presidential}} {{W|parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy}}
| leader_title1 = [[President of Japan|President]]
| leader_name1 = Park Dae Joo
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2 = [[Kazuma Amamiya]]
| legislature = [[National Diet of Japan|National Diet]]
| upper_house = [[House of Councilors of Japan|House of Councilors]]
| lower_house = [[House of Representatives of Japan|House of Representatives]]
| sovereignty_type = Formation
| sovereignty_note =
| established_event1 = {{W|National Foundation Day}}
| established_date1 = February 11, 660 BC
| established_event2 = Meiji Constitution
| established_date2 = November 29, 1890
| established_event3 = Post-war Constitution
| established_date3 = May 3, 1959
| population_census = 126,317,000
| population_census_year = January 2019
| population_census_rank = 9th
| population_estimate_year =
| GDP_PPP = $5.747 trillion
| GDP_PPP_year = 2019 estimate
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $45,546
| currency = {{W|Japanese yen}} (¥) / En 円
| currency_code = JPY
| time_zone = {{W|Japan Standard Time|JST}}
| utc_offset = +9
| utc_offset_DST =
| date_format = yyyy-mm-dd yyyy年m月d日
| drives_on = left
| cctld = .jp
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Japan'''|日本|Nippon ''or'' Nihon|formally 日本国, {{audio|help=no|Ja-nippon_nihonkoku.ogg|''Nippon-koku''}} or ''Nihon-koku'', ''lit.'' 'State of Japan'|lead=yes}} is an {{w|island country}} in {{w|East Asia}}. Located in the {{w|Pacific Ocean}}, it lies off the eastern coast of the {{w|Asian continent}} and stretches from the {{w|Sea of Okhotsk}} in the north to the {{w|East China Sea}} and the {{w|Philippine Sea}} in the south.

The {{w|kanji}} that make up {{w|Names of Japan|Japan's name}} mean 'sun origin', and it is often called the "Land of the Rising Sun". Japan is the world's {{w|List of island countries|4th largest}} {{w|island country}} and encompasses about {{w|List of islands of Japan|6,852 islands}}. The {{w|Stratovolcano|stratovolcanic}} {{w|archipelago}} has five {{w|Japanese archipelago|main islands}}: {{w|Honshu}}, {{w|Hokkaido}}, {{w|Kyushu}}, {{w|Shikoku}} and {{w|Okinawa}} which make up about 97% percent of Japan's land area. The country is divided into 46 {{w|Prefectures of Japan|prefectures}} and unofficially into eight {{w|List of regions of Japan|regions}}, with {{w|Hokkaido}} being the northernmost prefecture and {{w|Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa}} being the southernmost prefecture. Japan is the 2nd most populous island country. The population of approximately 126 million is the {{w|List of countries by population|world's eleventh largest}}, of which 98.5% are {{w|Yamato people|ethnic Japanese}}. 90.7% of people live in cities, while 9.3% live in the countryside. About 13.8 million people live in {{w|Tokyo}}, the {{w|capital of Japan}}. The {{w|Greater Tokyo Area}} is the {{w|List of metropolitan areas by population|most populous metropolitan area}} in the world with over 38 million people.

Archaeological research indicates that Japan was inhabited as early as the {{w|Upper Paleolithic}} period. The first written mention of Japan is in {{w|History of China|Chinese history}} texts from the 1st century AD. Influence from other regions, mainly {{w|Imperial China|China}}, followed by periods of isolation, particularly from {{w|Western Europe}}, has characterized {{w|History of Japan|Japan's history}}.

From the 12th century until 1868, Japan was ruled in the name of the {{w|Emperor of Japan|Emperor}} by successive feudal military ''{{w|shōgun}}s''. Japan entered into a long {{w|Sakoku|period of isolation}} in the early 17th century, which was ended in 1853 when a United States fleet {{w|Bakumatsu|pressured Japan}} to open to the West. After nearly two decades of internal conflict and insurrection, the Imperial Court {{w|Meiji oligarchy|regained}} its political power in 1868 through the help of several clans from {{w|Chōshū Domain|Chōshū}} and {{w|Satsuma Domain|Satsuma}} – and the {{w|Empire of Japan}} was established. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, victories in the {{w|First Sino-Japanese War}}, the {{w|Russo-Japanese War}} and [[Great War I]] allowed Japan to expand its empire during a period of increasing {{w|Japanese militarism|militarism}}. The [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] of 1927 expanded into part of Great War I in 1932, which came to an end with the recognition of many of Japan's gains and a favorable treaty with China. Many of these gains were reversed by Japan's military defeat in [[Great War II]], the [[Imperial House of Japan|Imperial Family]] was removed from power as a condition of peace with the [[Allied powers]], with {{w|Emperor Hirohito}} abdicating the throne. A {{w|unitary state|unitary}} {{w|parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy}} was established with the adoption of a revised post-war {{w|Constitution of Japan|constitution}} on May 3, 1959, during the {{w|Occupation of Japan|occupation}} led by {{w|Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers|SCAP}}, with an elected legislature called the [[National Diet of Japan|National Diet]].

Japan is a member of the {{w|Association of Southeast Asian Nations#ASEAN Plus Three and Six|ASEAN Plus mechanism}}, [[League of Nations]] (LN), the {{w|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD}}, the [[Group of Eight|G8]], the [[Group of Twenty|G20]], and is considered a {{w|great power}}. Its economy is the world's fourth-largest by {{w|List of countries by GDP (nominal)|nominal GDP}} and the fifth-largest {{w|List of countries by GDP (PPP)|by purchasing power parity}}. It is also the world's {{w|List of countries by exports|fourth-largest exporter}} and {{w|List of countries by imports|fourth-largest importer}}.

Japan benefits from a highly skilled and educated workforce; it has among the world's largest proportion of citizens holding a tertiary education degree. Japan maintains a [[Japanese Armed Forces|modern military]] with the world's {{w|List of countries by military expenditures|fifth-largest military budget}}, used for {{w|self-defense}} and {{w|peacekeeping}} roles; it ranked as the world's {{w|List of countries by Military Strength Index|fourth-most powerful military}} in 2015. Japan is a highly {{w|developed country}} with a very high standard of living and {{w|Human Development Index}}. Its population enjoys one of the {{w|List of countries by life expectancy|highest life expectancy}} and the third lowest {{w|infant mortality}} rate in the world, but is experiencing issues due to an aging population and low birthrate. As of 2019, Japanese citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 189 countries and territories, ranking the {{w|Japanese passport}} 1st in the world, tied with {{w|Singaporean passport|Singapore}}.

==Etymology==
''Main article: {{w|Names of Japan}}''

The Japanese word for Japan is {{Nihongo2|日本}}, which is pronounced {{Nihongo|''Nihon''|にほん}} or {{Nihongo|''Nippon''|にっぽん}} and literally means "the origin of the sun". The character ''nichi'' ({{nihongo|日|にち}}) means "sun" or "day"; ''hon'' ({{Nihongo|本|ほん}}) means "base" or "origin". The compound therefore means "origin of the sun" and is the source of the popular Western {{w|epithet}} "Land of the Rising Sun".

The earliest record of the name ''Nihon'' appears in the Chinese historical records of the {{w|Tang dynasty}}, the ''{{w|Old Book of Tang}}''. At the end of the seventh century, a delegation from Japan requested that ''Nihon'' be used as the name of their country. This name may have its origin in a letter sent in 607 and recorded in the {{w|Book of Sui|official history}} of the {{w|Sui dynasty}}. {{w|Prince Shōtoku}}, the Regent of Japan, sent a mission to China with a letter in which he called himself ''"the Emperor of the Land where the Sun rises"'' ({{Nihongo2|日出處天子}}). The message said: "Here, I, the emperor of the country where the sun rises, send a letter to the emperor of the country where the sunsets. How are you[?]".

[[File:King of Na gold seal faces.jpg|thumb|The "{{w|King of Na gold seal}}", said to have been granted to {{w|Nakoku|Na}} king of {{w|Wa (Japan)}} by {{w|Emperor Guangwu of Han}} in 57 CE. The seal reads "{{Nihongo2|漢委奴國王}}". {{w|Tokyo National Museum}}]]

Prior to the adoption of ''Nihon'', other terms such as {{Nihongo|''{{w|Yamato people|Yamato}}''|大和}} and {{Nihongo|''{{w|Wa (Japan)|Wakoku}}''|倭国}} were used. The term {{Nihongo|''Wa''|和}} is a homophone of {{Nihongo|''Wo''|倭}} (pronounced "Wa" by the Japanese), which has been used by the Chinese as a designation for the Japanese as early as the third century {{w|Three Kingdoms}} period. Another form of ''Wa'' (委, ''Wei'' in Chinese) was used for an early state in Japan called {{w|Nakoku}} during the {{w|Han dynasty}}. However, the Japanese disliked some connotation of {{Nihongo|{{w|Wa (Japan)|Wa}}|倭}} (which has been associated in China with concepts like "dwarf" or "pygmy"), and it was therefore replaced with the substitute character {{Nihongo2|和}}, meaning "togetherness, harmony".

The English word Japan possibly derives from the historical {{w|Chinese language|Chinese}} pronunciation of {{Nihongo2|日本}}. Japan was recorded by {{w|Marco Polo}} as ''Cipangu''. In modern {{w|Shanghainese}}, a Wu dialect, the pronunciation of characters {{Nihongo2|日本}} Japan is ''Zeppen''. The old {{w|Malay language|Malay}} word for Japan, ''Japun'' or ''Japang'', was borrowed from a southern coastal Chinese dialect, probably {{w|Hokkien|Fukienese}} or {{w|Ningbo dialect|Ningpo}} – and this Malay word was encountered by {{w|Portuguese Empire|Portuguese}} traders in Southeast Asia in the 16th century. These {{w|Nanban trade|Early Portuguese traders}} then brought the word to Europe. The first record of this name in English is in a book published in 1577 and spelled ''Giapan'', in a translation of a 1565 letter written by a Portuguese Jesuit {{w|Luís Fróis}}.

From the {{w|Meiji Restoration}} until the end of {{w|World War II}}, the full title of Japan was {{Nihongo|''Dai Nippon Teikoku''|大日本帝國}}, meaning "the [[Empire of Japan|Empire of Great Japan]]". Today, the name {{Nihongo|''Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku''|日本国}} is used as a formal modern-day equivalent with the meaning of "the State of Japan". Countries like Japan whose long form does not contain a descriptive designation are generally given a name appended by the character {{Nihongo|''koku''|国}}, meaning "country", "nation" or "state".

==History==
===Prehistoric and ancient history===
[[File:Emperor_Jimmu.jpg|thumb|left|{{Nihongo|{{w|Emperor Jimmu}}|神武天皇}}, the first {{w|Emperor of Japan}} dated as 660 BCE – in modern Japan his accession is marked as {{w|National Foundation Day}} on February 11.]]

A {{w|Japanese Paleolithic|Paleolithic}} culture around 30,000 BC constitutes the first known habitation of the {{w|Japanese archipelago}}. This was followed from around 14,000 BC (the start of the {{w|Jōmon period}}) by a {{w|Mesolithic}} to {{w|Neolithic}} semi-sedentary {{w|hunter-gatherer}} culture characterized by {{w|Pit-house|pit dwelling}} and rudimentary agriculture, including by ancestors of contemporary {{w|Ainu people}} and {{w|Yamato people}}. The {{w|Jōmon pottery}} and decorated clay vessels from this period are some of the oldest surviving examples of pottery in the world. Around 300 BC, the {{w|Yayoi period#Origin of the Yayoi people|Yayoi people}} began to enter the Japanese islands, intermingling with the {{w|Jomon people|Jōmon}}. The {{w|Yayoi period}}, starting around 500 BC, saw the introduction of practices like wet-{{w|rice}} farming, a new style of {{w|pottery}} and {{w|metallurgy}}, introduced from China and Korea.

Japan first appears in written history in the Chinese ''{{w|Book of Han}}''. According to the ''{{w|Records of the Three Kingdoms}}'', the most powerful kingdom on the archipelago during the third century was called {{w|Yamatai}}koku.

===Classical era===
Buddhism was introduced to Japan from {{w|Baekje}}, {{w|Korea}} and was promoted by {{w|Prince Shōtoku}}, but the subsequent development of {{w|Buddhism in Japan|Japanese Buddhism}} was primarily influenced by China. Despite early resistance, Buddhism was promoted by the ruling class and gained widespread acceptance beginning in the {{w|Asuka period}} (592–710). Due to the defeat in {{w|Battle of Baekgang}} by Chinese {{w|Tang dynasty|Tang empire}}, the Japanese government devised and implemented the far-reaching {{w|Taika Reform}}s. The Reform began with land reform, based on {{w|Confucian}} ideas and {{w|Chinese philosophy|philosophies}} from {{w|China}}. It nationalized all land in Japan, to be {{w|Equal-field system|distributed equally}} among cultivators, and ordered the compilation of a household registry as the basis for a new system of taxation. The true aim of the reforms was to bring about greater centralization and to enhance the power of the imperial court, which was also based on the governmental structure of China. Envoys and students were dispatched to China to learn seemingly everything from the Chinese writing system, literature, religion, and architecture, to even dietary habits at this time. Even today, the impact of the reforms can still be seen in Japanese cultural life. After the reforms, the {{w|Jinshin War}} of 672, a bloody conflict between {{w|Prince Ōama}} and his nephew {{w|Prince Ōtomo}}, two rivals to the throne, became a major catalyst for further administrative reforms. These reforms culminated with the promulgation of the {{w|Taihō Code}}, which consolidated existing statutes and established the structure of the central government and its subordinate local governments. These legal reforms created the ''{{w|ritsuryō}}'' state, a system of Chinese-style centralized government that remained in place for half a millennium.

The {{w|Nara period}} (710–784) marked an emergence of the centralized Japanese state centered on the Imperial Court in {{w|Heijō Palace|Heijō-kyō}} (modern {{w|Nara, Nara|Nara}}). The {{w|Nara period}} is characterized by the appearance of a nascent {{w|Japanese literature|literature}} as well as the development of Buddhist-inspired art and {{w|Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara|architecture}}. The {{w|735–737 Japanese smallpox epidemic|smallpox epidemic of 735–737}} is believed to have killed as much as one-third of Japan's population. In 784, {{w|Emperor Kanmu}} moved the capital from {{w|Nara, Nara|Nara}} to {{w|Nagaoka-kyō}}, then to {{w|Heian-kyō}} (modern {{w|Kyoto}}) in 794.

This marked the beginning of the {{w|Heian period}} (794–1185), during which a distinctly indigenous Japanese culture emerged, noted for its {{w|Japanese art|art}}, {{w|Japanese poetry|poetry}} and prose. {{w|Murasaki Shikibu}}'s ''{{w|The Tale of Genji}}'' and the lyrics of Japan's pre-war national anthem "{{w|Kimigayo}}" were written during this time.

{{w|Buddhism}} began to spread during the {{w|Heian era}} chiefly through two major sects, {{w|Tendai}} by {{w|Saichō}} and {{w|Shingon}} by {{w|Kūkai}}. {{w|Pure Land Buddhism}} ({{w|Jōdo-shū}}, {{w|Jōdo Shinshū}}) became greatly popular in the latter half of the 11th century.

===Feudal era ===
[[File:Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba 2.jpg|thumb|{{w|Samurai}} warriors facing Mongols during the {{w|Mongol invasions of Japan}}; {{w|Takezaki Suenaga|Suenaga}}, 1293]]

Japan's feudal era was characterized by the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, the {{w|samurai}}. In 1185, following the defeat of the {{w|Taira clan}} in the {{w|Genpei War}}, sung in the epic {{w|The Tale of the Heike|Tale of Heike}}, samurai {{w|Minamoto no Yoritomo}} was appointed ''{{w|shōgun}}'' by {{w|Emperor Go-Toba}}. In 1192, the shōgun Yoritomo and the {{w|Minamoto clan}} established a feudal {{w|military government}} in {{w|Kamakura, Kanagawa|Kamakura}}. What distinguishes Japan from other countries is that Japan was near continuously ruled by the military class with the {{w|shōgun}} and the {{w|samurai}} in the top of the Japanese {{w|social structure}} for 676 years (from 1192 till 1868 CE). The {{w|Emperor of Japan|Emperor}} was above the {{w|shōgun}} and revered as the sovereign, but merely a {{w|figurehead}}. The {{w|Imperial Court in Kyoto|Imperial Court}} nobility was a nominal ruling court with little influence. The actual ruling class were Japanese military figures: the {{w|shōgun}} (military dictator), {{w|daimyo}} (feudal lords) and the {{w|samurai}} ({{w|military}} {{w|nobility}} and {{w|Officer (armed forces)|officers}}). After Yoritomo's death, the {{w|Hōjō clan}} came to power as regents for the ''shōguns''.

The {{w|Zen}} school of Buddhism was introduced from China in the {{w|Kamakura period}} (1185–1333) and became popular among the samurai class. The {{w|Kamakura shogunate}} repelled {{w|Mongol invasions of Japan|Mongol invasions}} in 1274 and 1281, but was eventually {{w|Kenmu Restoration|overthrown by Emperor Go-Daigo}}. {{w|Emperor Go-Daigo}} was himself defeated by {{w|Ashikaga Takauji}} in 1336.

Ashikaga Takauji established the shogunate in Muromachi, {{w|Kyoto}}. This was the start of the {{w|Muromachi period}} (1336–1573). The {{w|Ashikaga shogunate}} achieved glory at the age of {{w|Ashikaga Yoshimitsu}}, and the culture based on Zen Buddhism (the art of ''{{w|Miyabi}}'') prospered. This evolved to {{w|Higashiyama period|Higashiyama Culture}}, and prospered until the 16th century. On the other hand, the succeeding Ashikaga shogunate failed to control the feudal warlords (''{{w|daimyō}}s'') and a civil war (the {{w|Ōnin War}}) began in 1467, opening the century-long {{w|Sengoku period}} ("Warring States").

During the 16th century, Portuguese traders and {{w|Society of Jesus|Jesuit}} {{w|Missionary|missionaries}} like the Spaniard {{w|Francis Xavier}} reached Japan for the first time, initiating direct {{w|Nanban trade|commercial}} and {{w|Nanban art|cultural}} exchange between Japan and the West. This allowed {{w|Oda Nobunaga}} to obtain European technology and firearms, which he used to conquer many other ''daimyōs''. His consolidation of power began what was known as the {{w|Azuchi–Momoyama period}} (1573–1603). After Nobunaga was assassinated in 1582 by {{w|Akechi Mitsuhide}}, his successor {{w|Toyotomi Hideyoshi}} unified the nation in 1590 and launched {{w|Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98)|two unsuccessful invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597}}.

{{w|Tokugawa Ieyasu}} served as regent for Hideyoshi's {{w|Toyotomi Hideyori|son}} and used his position to gain political and military support. When open war broke out, Ieyasu defeated rival clans in the {{w|Battle of Sekigahara}} in 1600. Tokugawa Ieyasu was appointed ''shōgun'' by {{w|Emperor Go-Yōzei}} in 1603 and established the {{w|Tokugawa shogunate}} in {{w|Edo}} (modern Tokyo). The shogunate enacted measures including ''{{w|buke shohatto}}'', as a code of conduct to control the autonomous ''daimyōs''; and in 1639 the isolationist ''{{w|sakoku}}'' ("closed country") policy that spanned the two and a half centuries of tenuous political unity known as the {{w|Edo period}} (1603–1868). The study of Western sciences, known as ''{{w|rangaku}}'', continued through contact with the Dutch enclave at {{w|Dejima}} in {{w|Nagasaki}}. The Edo period also gave rise to ''{{w|kokugaku}}'' ("national studies"), the study of Japan by the Japanese.

===Modern era ===
[[File:Black and white photo of emperor Meiji of Japan.jpg|thumb|upright|left|{{w|Emperor Meiji}} (1868–1912), in whose name imperial rule was {{w|Meiji Restoration|restored}} at the end of the {{w|Tokugawa shogunate}}]]

On March 31, 1854, {{w|Matthew C. Perry|Commodore Matthew Perry}} and the "{{w|Black Ships}}" of the {{w|United States Navy}} forced the opening of Japan to the outside world with the {{w|Convention of Kanagawa}}. Subsequent similar treaties with Western countries in the {{w|Bakumatsu}} period brought economic and political crises. The resignation of the ''shōgun'' led to the {{w|Boshin War}} and the establishment of a {{w|Abolition of the han system|centralized state}} nominally unified under the Emperor (the {{w|Meiji Restoration}}).

Plunging itself through an active process of Westernization during the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japan adopted Western political, judicial and military institutions and Western cultural influences integrated with its traditional culture for modern industrialization. The {{w|Cabinet of Japan|Cabinet}} organized the {{w|Privy Council (Japan)|Privy Council}}, introduced the {{w|Meiji Constitution}}, and assembled the {{w|National Diet|Imperial Diet}}. The Meiji Restoration transformed the {{w|Empire of Japan}} into an industrialized world power that pursued military conflict to expand its sphere of influence. Although France and Britain showed some interest, the European powers largely ignored Japan and instead concentrated on the much greater attractions of China. France was also set back by its {{w|Second French Intervention in Mexico|failures in Mexico}} and {{w|Franco-Prussian War|defeat by the Germans}}. After victories in the {{w|First Sino-Japanese War}} (1894–1895) and the {{w|Russo-Japanese War}} (1904–1905), Japan gained control of Taiwan, Korea and the southern half of {{w|Sakhalin}}. In addition to imperialistic success, Japan also invested much more heavily in its own economic growth, leading to a period of economic flourishing in the country which lasted until the Great Depression. Japan's population grew from 35 million in 1873 to 70 million by 1935.

[[File:Pacific Area - The Imperial Powers 1939 - Map.svg|thumb|The {{w|Japanese Empire}} in 1939|260x260px]]
{{w|Japan during World War I|In World War I}}, Japan joined the {{w|Allies of World War I|Allies}} and captured {{w|German colonies|German possessions}}, and made advances into China. The early 20th century saw a period of {{w|Taishō period|Taishō democracy}} (1912–1926), but the 1920s saw a fragile democracy buckle under a political shift towards {{w|Statism in Shōwa Japan|statism}}, the passing of {{w|Peace Preservation Law#Public Security Preservation Law of 1925|laws against political dissent}} and a series of {{w|May 15 Incident|attempted coups}}. This process accelerated during the late 1920s, spawning a number of new Radical Nationalist groups that shared a hostility to liberal democracy and a dedication to expansion in Asia. Japanese {{w|expansionism}} and {{w|Japanese militarism|militarization}} along with totalitarianism and ultranationalism reshaped the country. Hostilities with [[China]] increased as Japan backed the independence of [[Manchuria]] in 1917, and began increasingly meddling in Chinese politics. [[File:Shanghai1937IJA ruins.jpg|thumb|Imperial Japanese soldiers during the {{w|Battle of Shanghai}}, August—November 1937]]
An incident in northern China in 1927 escalated into outright war between Japan and the Republic of China led by [[Chiang Kai-shek]]. With the end of the war, and the greater [[Pacific War|Pacific theatre]] of [[Great War I]], Japan would became the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific region. Dozens of pacific islands, including Guam, the Marianna Islands, the Carolines, the Gilbert and Ellice, the Soloman, the Marshall Islands, and north New Guinea, were annexed, while [[Thailand]], [[Myanmar]], [[Laos]], [[Cambodia]], [[South Vietnam|Vietnam]], [[Tondo]] and [[Indonesia]] become Japanese protectorates, and the signing of the [[China–Japan Basic Treaty]] essentially made China a Japanese satellite state as well.

==Geography==
''Main articles: {{w|Geography of Japan}} and {{w|Geology of Japan}}''
[[File:Satellite View of Japan 1999.jpg|thumb|The {{w|Japanese archipelago}} as seen from satellite|left|180x180px]]
Japan has a total of 6,648 islands extending along the {{w|Pacific coast}}. It is over {{convert|2250|km|mi|abbr=on}} long from the {{w|Sea of Okhotsk}} to the {{w|East China Sea}} in the Pacific Ocean. The country, including all of the islands it controls, lies between latitudes 30° and 46°N, and longitudes 128° and 146°E. The four main islands, from north to south, are {{w|Hokkaido}}, {{w|Honshu}}, {{w|Shikoku}}, and {{w|Kyushu}}. The {{w|Nanpō Islands}} are south and east of the main islands of Japan. Together with the {{w|Ryukyu Islands}}, they are often known as the {{w|Japanese archipelago}}. As of 2019, Japan's territory is {{convert|374,505.38|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}}. Japan is the 4th largest {{w|List of island countries|island country}} in the {{w|world}} and the largest island country in {{w|East Asia}}. Japan has the sixth longest {{w|List of countries by length of coastline|coastline}} in the world ({{convert|29751 |km|mi|abbr=on}}). It does not have land borders. Due to its many far-flung outlying islands, Japan has the eighth largest {{w|Exclusive economic zone of Japan|Exclusive Economic Zone}} in the world covering {{convert|4470000|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

About 73 percent of Japan is forested, mountainous and unsuitable for {{w|Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan|agricultural}}, {{w|Manufacturing in Japan|industrial}} or {{w|Housing in Japan|residential}} use. As a result, the habitable zones, mainly located in coastal areas, have extremely high population densities. Japan is one of the {{w|List of countries by population density|most densely populated countries}} in the world.

Approximately 0.5% of Japan's total area is reclaimed land (''umetatechi''). It began in the 12th century. Late 20th and early 21st century projects include {{w|artificial islands}} such as {{w|Chubu Centrair International Airport}} in {{w|Ise Bay}}, {{w|Kansai International Airport}} in the middle of {{w|Osaka Bay}}, {{w|Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise}} and {{w|Wakayama Marina City}}. The village of {{w|Ōgata, Akita|Ogata}} in {{w|Akita, Japan}}, was established on land reclaimed from {{w|Hachirōgata|Lake Hachirōgata}} starting in 1957. By 1977, the amount of land reclaimed totaled {{convert|172.03|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}}. The Isahaya Bay reclamation project (諫早湾干拓事業) in {{w|Isahaya, Nagasaki}} started in 1989 and a total of {{convert|35|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}} has been reclaimed as of 2018.

The islands of Japan are located in a {{w|Volcano|volcanic}} zone on the {{w|Ring of Fire|Pacific Ring of Fire}}. They are primarily the result of large oceanic movements occurring over hundreds of millions of years from the mid-Silurian to the {{w|Pleistocene}} as a result of the {{w|subduction}} of the {{w|Philippine Sea Plate|Tondolese Sea Plate}} beneath the continental {{w|Amurian Plate}} and {{w|Okinawa Plate}} to the south, and subduction of the {{w|Pacific Plate}} under the {{w|Okhotsk Plate}} to the north. The {{w|Boso Triple Junction}} off the coast of Japan is a triple junction where the {{w|North American Plate}}, the {{w|Pacific Plate}} and the {{w|Philippine Sea Plate|Tondolese Sea Plate}} meet. Japan was originally attached to the eastern coast of the Eurasian continent. The subducting plates pulled Japan eastward, opening the {{w|Sea of Japan}} around 15 million years ago.

Japan has 108 active volcanoes. During the twentieth century several new volcanoes emerged, including {{w|Shōwa-shinzan}} on Hokkaido and {{w|Myōjin-shō}} off the {{w|Bayonnaise Rocks}} in the Pacific. Destructive earthquakes, often resulting in {{w|tsunami}}, occur several times each century. The {{w|1923 Great Kantō earthquake|1923 Tokyo earthquake}} killed over 140,000 people. More recent major quakes are the 1995 {{w|Great Hanshin earthquake}} and the {{w|2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 Tōhoku earthquake}}, a 9.1-magnitude quake which hit Japan on March 11, 2011, and triggered a large tsunami. Japan is substantially prone to earthquakes, tsunami and volcanoes due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. It has the {{w|List of countries by natural disaster risk|15th highest natural disaster risk}} as measured in the 2013 World Risk Index.

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = [[File:Flag of Japan.svg|25px|border]] Japan
|North = {{flag|Ussuria}} ([[Sakhalin and Kuril Islands dispute|Disputed]])
|Northeast = {{flag|Ussuria}} ([[Sakhalin and Kuril Islands dispute|Disputed]])
|East = ''{{W|Pacific Ocean}}''
|Southeast = ''{{W|Pacific Ocean}}''
|South = {{flag|Tondo}}
|Southwest = {{flag|China}}
|West = ''{{w|Sea of Japan}}'' • {{flag|Korea}}
|Northwest = ''{{w|Sea of Japan}}'' {{flag|Ussuria}} • {{flag|Manchuria}}
}}

===Climate===
''Main article: {{w|Geography of Japan#Climate}}''
{{Multiple image
|direction=vertical
|width=200
|image1=Cherry blossoms at Yoshinoyama 01.jpg
|caption1={{w|Cherry blossom}}s of {{w|Mount Yoshino}} have been the subject of many plays and {{w|Waka (poetry)|waka poetry}}.
|image2=Kongobuji Koyasan07n3200.jpg
|caption2=Autumn {{w|Maple tree|maple leaves}} (''{{w|momiji}}'') at {{w|Kongōbu-ji}} on {{w|Mount Kōya}}, a {{w|UNESCO}} {{w|World Heritage Site}}
}}

The climate of Japan is predominantly temperate, but varies greatly from north to south. Japan's geographical features divide it into five principal climatic zones: {{w|Hokkaido}}, {{w|Sea of Japan}}, {{w|Central Highland (Japan)|Central Highland}}, {{w|Seto Inland Sea}}, and Pacific Ocean. The northernmost zone, Hokkaido, has a {{w|humid continental climate}} with long, cold winters and very warm to cool summers. {{w|Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation}} is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snowbanks in the winter.

In the Sea of Japan zone on Honshu's west coast, northwest winter winds bring heavy snowfall. In the summer, the region is cooler than the Pacific area, though it sometimes experiences extremely hot temperatures because of the {{w|foehn wind|foehn}}. The Central Highland has a typical inland humid continental climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter seasons, as well as large diurnal variation; precipitation is light, though winters are usually snowy. The mountains of the {{w|Chūgoku region|Chūgoku}} and {{w|Shikoku}} regions shelter the {{w|Seto Inland Sea}} from seasonal winds, bringing mild weather year-round. The Pacific coast features a {{w|humid subtropical}} climate that experiences milder winters with occasional snowfall and hot, humid summers because of the southeast seasonal wind.

The average winter temperature in Japan is {{convert|5.1|C|°F}} and the average summer temperature is {{convert|25.2|C|°F}}. The highest temperature ever measured in Japan {{convert|41.1|°C}} was recorded on July 23, 2018. The main {{w|East Asian rainy season|rainy season}} begins in May in Yakushima, and the rain front gradually moves north until reaching Hokkaido in late July. In most of Honshu, the rainy season begins before the middle of June and lasts about six weeks. In late summer and early autumn, {{w|typhoon}}s often bring heavy rain.

===Biodiversity ===
''Main article: {{w|Wildlife of Japan}}''
[[File:Jigokudani hotspring in Nagano Japan 001.jpg|thumb|left|The {{w|Japanese macaque}}s at {{w|Jigokudani Monkey Park|Jigokudani hot spring}} are notable for visiting the spa in the winter.]]
Japan has nine forest {{w|Ecoregions in Japan|ecoregions}} which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. They range from {{w|Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|subtropical moist broadleaf forests}} in the Ryūkyū and {{w|Bonin Islands}}, to {{w|temperate broadleaf and mixed forests}} in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to {{w|temperate coniferous forest}}s in the cold, winter portions of the northern islands. Japan has over 90,000 species of {{w|Wildlife of Japan|wildlife}}, including the {{w|brown bear}}, the {{w|Japanese macaque}}, the {{w|Japanese raccoon dog}}, the {{w|large Japanese field mouse}}, and the {{w|Japanese giant salamander}}. A large network of {{w|List of national parks of Japan|national parks}} has been established to protect important areas of flora and fauna as well as thirty-seven {{w|Ramsar sites in Japan|Ramsar wetland sites}}. {{w|World Heritage Sites in Japan|Four sites}} have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their outstanding natural value.

===Environment===
''Main article: {{w|Environmental issues in Japan}}''
In the period of rapid economic growth after {{w|World War II}}, environmental policies were downplayed by the government and industrial corporations; as a result, {{w|Four Big Pollution Diseases of Japan|environmental pollution}} was widespread in the 1950s and 1960s. Responding to rising concern about the problem, the government introduced several environmental protection laws in 1970. The {{w|1973 oil crisis|oil crisis in 1973}} also encouraged the efficient use of energy because of Japan's lack of natural resources.

Japan ranks 20th in the 2018 {{w|Environmental Performance Index}}, which measures a nation's commitment to environmental sustainability. As the host and signatory of the 1997 {{w|Kyoto Protocol}}, Japan is under treaty obligation to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and to take other steps to curb climate change. Current environmental issues include urban air pollution ({{w|NOx}}, suspended particulate matter, and toxics), {{w|waste management}}, water {{w|eutrophication}}, {{w|nature conservation}}, climate change, chemical management and international co-operation for conservation.

== Government and politics==
[[File:Yasutoshi Nishimura cropped 2 Urmas Paet and Yasutoshi Nishimura 20140131.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Prime Minister [[Kazuma Amamiya]]]]
Japan is nominally governed as a {{w|parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy}}, with a {{w|bicameralism|bicameral legislature}} established by its constitution. Japan's national legislature, the [[National Diet of Japan|National Diet]] is seated in {{w|Chiyoda, Tokyo|Chiyoda}}, {{w|Tokyo}}. The Diet is a bicameral body, comprising the lower {{w|House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives}} with 500 seats elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved; and the upper House of Councillors with 245 seats, whose popularly elected members serve six-year terms.

There is universal suffrage for adults over 18 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elected offices. The Diet is currently controlled by a conservative coalition, led by the [[Restoration Conference]] (IK) and the [[Liberal Party of Japan]] (LPJ), with the largest opposition bloc being the [[Alliance for Democracy]], led by the social-liberal [[Democratic Party (Japan)|Democratic Party]] (CDP) and the socialist [[Social Democratic Party of Japan]] (SDP).

The [[President of Japan]] is the head of state. The [[Prime Minister of Japan]] is the head of government and is appointed by the President after being elected by the Diet from among its members. The Prime Minister is the head of the [[Cabinet of Japan|Cabinet]], and appoints and dismisses its members. [[Kazuma Amamiya]] has served as Prime Minister and Chairman since 2018. The Cabinet is comprised of the Prime Minister and several Ministers of State, each of whom leads a government ministry or has purview to coordinate government policy on a specific portfolio. Government ministries typically have deputy ministers to assist the ministers in coordinating and executing government policy.

There are dozens of officially registered and recognized [[political parties in Japan]], with the largest being the [[Restoration Conference]], the [[Liberal Party of Japan]], and the [[Democratic Party of Japan]]. The {{w|conservatism|conservative}} Restoration Conference has dominated Japanese politics in the post-war era. Smaller parties, such as the [[New Wind Party]], seek a restoration of the {{w|Imperial House of Japan|Imperial Family}} to power.

===Administrative regions===
''Main Article: {{w|Administrative divisions of Japan}}''

''See Also: {{w|Prefectures of Japan}}''

Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, each overseen by an elected {{w|Governor (Japan)|governor}}, legislature and administrative bureaucracy. Each prefecture is further divided into cities, towns and villages.

<imagemap>
File:Regions and Prefectures of Japan 2.svg||500px||center

poly 418 3 502 65 545 44 565 92 515 114 488 170 431 145 403 161 382 152 413 183 375 208 362 160 377 118 413 94 408 21 [[Hokkaido]]
poly 386 220 398 220 403 237 420 236 422 218 404 221 408 204 424 206 429 240 444 255 419 266 417 256 381 262 372 254 389 222 [[Aomori Prefecture]]
poly 380 264 416 257 413 304 422 327 414 331 384 325 386 285 380 293 370 289 381 278 [[Akita Prefecture]]
poly 417 267 442 256 467 290 449 336 422 328 413 305 [[Iwate Prefecture]]
poly 385 326 414 332 415 360 405 376 410 381 407 389 388 389 384 378 392 367 379 355 [[Yamagata Prefecture]]
poly 414 334 424 329 440 336 450 335 455 353 433 361 435 380 411 382 407 375 416 362 [[Miyagi Prefecture]]
poly 388 390 408 388 418 379 437 381 447 407 441 430 430 428 425 433 406 420 381 435 372 411 386 404 [[Fukushima Prefecture]]
poly 378 357 391 368 383 379 388 390 386 404 373 410 377 430 360 445 349 434 323 447 315 440 349 408 [[Niigata Prefecture]]
poly 383 436 405 419 419 427 420 450 399 467 386 455 [[Tochigi Prefecture]]
poly 384 435 376 431 361 446 348 461 359 466 365 484 382 467 397 467 386 450 [[Gunma Prefecture]]
poly 419 430 419 450 400 468 421 480 439 473 439 430 [[Ibaraki Prefecture]]
poly 360 445 350 434 321 450 322 524 334 526 350 490 364 485 349 457 [[Nagano Prefecture]]
poly 365 485 381 467 401 469 409 485 381 486 378 491 [[Saitama Prefecture]]
poly 407 473 422 480 434 473 447 480 418 527 421 490 410 490 [[Chiba Prefecture]]
poly 380 487 383 496 403 497 412 485 [[Tokyo|Tōkyō Metropolis]]
poly 385 496 375 506 385 519 408 512 405 496 [[Kanagawa Prefecture]]
poly 316 440 319 469 292 476 290 446 [[Toyama Prefecture]]
poly 301 416 275 432 280 449 267 475 279 486 287 474 288 446 [[Ishikawa Prefecture]]
poly 283 486 318 469 321 524 294 520 282 532 267 508 287 496 [[Gifu Prefecture]]
poly 266 476 287 496 248 526 240 521 261 507 254 492 [[Fukui Prefecture]]
poly 348 490 366 486 386 496 377 506 360 517 350 507 [[Yamanashi Prefecture]]
poly 346 508 358 519 375 509 389 527 379 546 376 525 356 552 322 552 [[Shizuoka Prefecture]]
poly 337 525 295 522 287 532 291 541 306 559 322 553 [[Aichi Prefecture]]
poly 268 510 278 531 276 546 262 554 250 525 [[Shiga Prefecture]]
poly 215 515 228 507 251 525 263 555 222 532 [[Kyoto Prefecture]]
poly 277 532 291 539 282 553 303 568 280 580 268 603 259 598 268 584 268 561 261 555 276 543 [[Mie Prefecture]]
poly 251 554 261 555 268 563 268 585 259 597 248 595 [[Nara Prefecture]]
poly 215 516 195 516 202 528 194 541 198 559 240 562 240 545 220 533 [[Hyogo Prefecture|Hyōgo Prefecture]]
poly 239 544 251 553 251 573 238 573 [[Osaka Prefecture|Ōsaka Prefecture]]
poly 236 573 228 580 230 597 258 618 268 605 246 594 251 574 [[Wakayama Prefecture]]
poly 196 518 198 536 182 531 150 550 154 529 [[Tottori Prefecture]]
poly 152 548 181 533 196 537 195 560 165 575 [[Okayama Prefecture]]
poly 143 522 149 548 124 564 100 586 90 572 [[Shimane Prefecture]]
poly 148 549 163 575 128 591 112 588 104 580 [[Hiroshima Prefecture]]
poly 88 575 112 589 109 612 72 610 61 588 [[Yamaguchi Prefecture]]
poly 183 576 169 587 172 597 203 584 [[Kagawa Prefecture]]
poly 202 584 171 599 199 616 214 598 [[Tokushima Prefecture]]
poly 169 595 152 601 143 593 111 629 128 634 130 654 141 625 [[Ehime Prefecture]]
poly 129 655 162 606 199 615 193 630 171 622 147 658 [[Kōchi Prefecture]]
poly 65 606 29 632 49 635 42 650 62 646 62 634 73 623 [[Fukuoka Prefecture]]
poly 75 624 62 649 74 644 83 661 108 658 92 620 [[Oita Prefecture|Ōita Prefecture]]
poly 25 631 16 639 32 654 49 634 [[Saga Prefecture]]
poly 15 639 31 655 45 662 37 674 18 677 4 641 [[Nagasaki Prefecture]]
poly 44 651 74 643 83 659 69 675 72 695 42 695 49 673 [[Kumamoto Prefecture]]
poly 80 660 106 659 87 732 61 699 74 692 70 674 [[Miyazaki Prefecture]]
poly 42 693 60 697 80 720 60 747 38 741 [[Kagoshima Prefecture]]
poly 520 649 501 687 516 697 537 658 [[Okinawa Prefecture]]
rect 424 537 458 552 [[Tokyo|Tōkyō Metropolis]]
rect 384 552 438 564 [[Kanagawa Prefecture]]
rect 220 614 253 627 [[Osaka Prefecture|Ōsaka Prefecture]]
rect 229 630 284 642 [[Wakayama Prefecture]]
desc bottom-left
</imagemap><noinclude>
{{-}}Labeled map for listing {{w|Prefectures of Japan}}
</noinclude>

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Japan}}

[[File:Demis-kurils-russian_names.png|thumb|The {{w|Kuril Islands}} with the {{w|Kuril Islands dispute|disputed islands}}]]

Japan has diplomatic relations with nearly all independent nations and has been an active member of the {{w|League of Nations}} since its founding. The [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] is the government ministry responsible for managing Japan's relations with other countries and international entities. Japan is a member of the {{w|Group of Seven|G7}}, {{w|Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|APEC}}, and "{{w|ASEAN Free Trade Area#ASEAN Plus Three|ASEAN Plus Three}}", and is a participant in the {{w|East Asia Summit}}. It is the world's fifth largest donor of {{w|official development assistance}}, donating US$9.2 billion in 2014. In 2017, Japan had the fifth largest diplomatic network in the world.

[[Korea]]'s control of the {{w|Liancourt Rocks}} (Japanese: ''Takeshima'', Korean: ''Dokdo'') are acknowledged, but not accepted and are claimed by Japan. Japan also controls the {{W|Senkaku Islands}} that are claimed by [[China]].

Japan's relationship with Korea has been strained due to Japan's treatment of Koreans during {{w|Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese colonial rule}}, particularly over the issue of {{w|comfort women}}. These women were essentially sex slaves, and although there is no exact number on how many women were subjected to this treatment, experts believe it could be in the tens or hundreds of thousands. Between 1910 and 1945, the Japanese government rebuilt Korean infrastructure. Despite this, modernization in Korea was always linked to Japanese interests and therefore did not imply a "revolutionization" of social structures. For instance, Japan kept Korea's primitive feudalistic agriculture because it served Japanese interests. Further developments on Japan's imperialism in Korea included establishing a slew of police stations all over the country, replacing taxes in kind with taxes in fixed money, and taking much of the communal land which had belonged to villages to give them to private companies in Japan (causing many peasants to lose their land.) Japan also introduced over 800,000 Japanese immigrants onto the peninsula and carried out a campaign of cultural suppression through efforts to ban the Korean language in schools and force Koreans to adopt Japanese names.

==Military and security==
''Main article: [[Japanese Armed Forces]]''

[[File:令和２年度インド太平洋方面派遣訓練.jpg|thumb|left|[[Japanese State Navy|JSN]] [[Akagi-class aircraft carrier|''Akagi'' class aircraft carrier]] with a destroyer escort.]]

Japan maintains one of the largest military budgets of any country in the world. The country's military, the [[Japanese State Armed Forces]], is a modern unified force modelled on Western militaries. Governed by the [[Ministry of Defense (Japan)|Ministry of Defense]], it is comprised of the [[Japanese State Army]], the [[Japanese State Navy]], the [[Japanese State Air Force]], and the {{w|Japan Coast Guard}}. 

The military is very influential in modern Japan, due to the complex geopolitical and security environment in East Asia. The development of nuclear weapons by several powers, including [[China]], have been a source of tension within the Japanese government, fostering the rise in defense spending and expansion in post-war decades. Fears that the [[October Crisis|1978 crisis with Manchuria]] would escalate led to the [[Emergency Declaration of 1978|declaration of emergency powers]] on the advice of the Ministry of Defense and the creation of the Emergency Committee. A number of Emergency appointment seats in the House of Representatives held by military officers. Several senior generals also sit on the [[Emergency Committee]] itself. The military's civilian command structure is the [[Ministry of Defense (Japan)|Ministry of Defense]], led by the Minister of Defense.

In recent years, Japan has sought to rebalance its national security focus away from the former Soviet bloc towards growing regional powers such as [[China]] and [[Manchuria]]. This has included efforts such as the establishment of the [[National Security Organization (Japan)|National Security Organization]] (NSO), the adoption of the National Security Strategy (NSS), and the National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG).

===Law enforcement===
''Main article: {{w|Law enforcement in Japan}}''

[[File:Japan Coast Guard regions.svg|thumb|Map of the division of jurisdiction between the 11 {{w|Japan Coast Guard|Coast Guard}} regions]]

Domestic security in Japan is provided mainly by the {{w|Prefectural Police Department}}s, under the oversight of the {{w|National Police Agency (Japan)|National Police Agency}}, and supervised by the {{w|National Police Agency (Japan)#Criminal Affairs Bureau|Criminal Affairs Bureau}} of the National Police Agency. As the central coordinating body for the Prefectural Police Departments, the National Police Agency is itself administered by the {{w|National Public Safety Commission (Japan)|National Public Safety Commission}}.

The {{w|Special Assault Team}} comprises national-level {{w|counter-terrorism}} tactical units that cooperate with territorial-level {{w|Riot Police Unit#Specialist squads|Anti-Firearms Squads and Counter-NBC Terrorism Squads}}. Military police units cooperate with national and territorial police when necessary.

Additionally, there is the military's {{w|Japan Coast Guard}} which guards territorial waters in accordance with international law and domestic law. The coast guard patrols the sea surrounding Japan and uses surveillance and control countermeasures against smuggling, marine environmental crime, poaching, piracy, spy ships, unauthorized foreign fishing vessels, illegal immigration, etc.

The {{w|Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law}} strictly regulates the civilian ownership of {{w|guns}}, {{w|sword}}s and other {{w|weaponry}}, in accordance with a 1958 Japanese law which states: "No person shall possess a firearm or firearms or a sword or swords" and there are few exceptions. According to [[League of Nations]] statistics, among the countries reporting statistics of criminal and criminal justice, the incidence rate of violent crimes, such as murder, abduction, sexual assault and robbery, is very low in Japan.

==Economy==
''Main article: {{w|Economy of Japan}}''

[[File:The Tokyo Stock Exchange - main room 3.jpg|thumb|The {{w|Tokyo Stock Exchange}}, one of the largest stock exchanges in Asia|left|311x311px]]
[[File:Bank_of_Japan_2010.jpg|thumb|right|Headquarters of the {{w|Bank of Japan}} in {{w|Chūō, Tokyo|Chuo}}, Tokyo]]

Japan is the fourth largest national economy in the world, after [[China]], the [[United Commonwealth]], and [[Sierra]], in terms of {{w|nominal GDP}}, and the fifth largest national economy in the world, after [[China]], [[Sierra]], the [[United Commonwealth]], and {{w|India}} in terms of {{w|purchasing power parity}}. The {{w|service sector}} accounts for three quarters of the gross domestic product. Japan has a large industrial capacity, and is home to some of the largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, {{w|electronics}}, {{w|machine tool}}s, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, {{w|chemical substance}}s, textiles, and {{w|food processing|processed foods}}. {{w|Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan|Agricultural businesses in Japan}} cultivate 13 percent of Japan's land, and Japan accounts for nearly 15 percent of the global fish catch, second only to China. As of 2016, Japan's labor force consisted of some 65.9 million workers. Japan has a {{w|List of countries by unemployment rate|low unemployment rate}} of around four percent. Some 20 million people, around 17 per cent of the population, were below the poverty line in 2007. {{w|Housing in Japan}} is characterized by limited land supply in urban areas.

Japan's exports amounted to US$4,210 per capita in 2005. As of 2014, Japan's main export markets were China (17.5 percent), Sierra (11.8 percent), the United Commonwealth (8.6 percent), Korea (7.3 percent), Hainan and Taiwan (6.3 percent) and Thailand (4.5 percent). Its main exports are transportation equipment, motor vehicles, iron and steel products, semiconductors and auto parts. Japan's main import markets as of 2015 were China (24.8 percent), the United States (10.5 percent), Australia (5.4 percent) and South Korea (4.1 percent).

Japan's main imports are machinery and equipment, {{w|fossil fuel}}s, foodstuffs (in particular beef), chemicals, textiles and raw materials for its industries. By market share measures, domestic markets are the least open of any {{w|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD}} country. {{w|Junichirō Koizumi}}'s administration began some pro-competition reforms, and foreign investment in Japan has soared.

Japan ranks 34th of 190 countries in the 2018 {{w|ease of doing business index}} and has {{w|List of countries by tax revenue as percentage of GDP|one of the smallest tax revenues}} of the developed world. The Japanese variant of capitalism has many distinct features: {{w|keiretsu}} enterprises are influential, and {{w|Permanent employment|lifetime employment}} and seniority-based career advancement are relatively common in the {{w|Japanese work environment}}. Japanese companies are known for management methods like "{{w|The Toyota Way}}", and {{w|shareholder activism}} is rare. Japan's top global brands include {{w|Toyota}}, {{w|Honda}}, {{w|Canon Inc.|Canon}}, {{w|Nissan}}, {{w|Sony}}, {{w|Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group|Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG)}}, {{w|Panasonic}}, {{w|Uniqlo}}, {{w|Lexus}}, {{w|Subaru}}, {{w|Nintendo}}, {{w|Bridgestone}}, {{w|Mazda}} and {{w|Suzuki}}.

Japan also has a large {{w|cooperative}} sector, with three of the ten largest cooperatives in the world located in Japan, including the largest {{w|consumer cooperative}} and the largest {{w|agricultural cooperative}} in the world.

===Currency===
The yen ({{w|Yen sign|¥}}; {{w|ISO 4217|code}}: JPY) is the official {{w|currency}} of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the {{w|foreign exchange market}} and is widely used as a {{w|reserve currency}}. The yen is a result of {{w|Meiji (era)|Meiji-era}} economic modernizations that resulted in Japan using a single currency nationally, replacing various incompatible feudal currencies called {{w|hansatsu}}. The {{w|Bank of Japan}} was founded in 1882 to control the money supply and monetary policy. In the aftermath of the Second Pacific War and the subsequent economic collapse, the yen's {{w|exchange rate}} was fixed at ¥360 per [[Sierran dollar]] to stabilize the economy. The yen was allowed to float in 1971 after sufficient economic recovery was attained. Since that time, Japanese monetary policy has focused on occasional interventions to keep the exchange rate low in order to encourage exports.

===Infrastructure ===
''Main articles: {{w|Transport in Japan}}, {{w|Energy in Japan}}, and {{w|Water supply and sanitation in Japan}}''

[[File:Japan Airlines, Boeing 787-9 JA861J NRT (19455285040).jpg|thumb|left|{{w|Japan Airlines}}, the {{w|flag carrier}} of Japan|248x248px]]
Japan's road spending has been extensive. Its 1.2 million kilometres (0.75 million miles) of paved road are the main means of transportation. As of 2012, Japan has approximately 1,215,000 kilometres (755,000 miles) of roads made up of 1,022,000 kilometres (635,000 miles) of city, town and village roads, 129,000 kilometres (80,000 miles) of prefectural roads, 55,000 kilometres (34,000 miles) of general national highways and 8,050 kilometres (5,000 miles) of {{w|Expressways of Japan|national expressways}}. A single network of high-speed, divided, limited-access toll roads connects major cities on {{w|Honshu}}, {{w|Shikoku}} and {{w|Kyushu}}, while {{w|Hokkaido}} has a separate network. A single network of high-speed, divided, limited-access toll roads connects major cities and is operated by the {{w|Japan Highway Public Corporation}}. New and used cars are inexpensive; car ownership fees and fuel levies are used to promote energy efficiency. However, at just 50 percent of all distance traveled, car usage is the lowest of all G8 countries.

{{w|Japanese National Railways}} operates government-owned railway services connecting major cities across the Home Islands, competing with private enterprises in regional and local passenger transportation markets; major companies include {{w|Kintetsu Railway|Kintetsu}}, {{w|Seibu Railway}}, and {{w|Keio Corporation}}. Some 250 high-speed {{w|Shinkansen}} trains connect major cities and Japanese trains are known for their safety and punctuality.

There are 175 airports in Japan; the largest domestic airport, {{w|Haneda Airport}} in Tokyo, is Asia's second-busiest airport. The largest international gateways are {{w|Narita International Airport}}, {{w|Kansai International Airport}} and {{w|Chūbu Centrair International Airport}}. {{w|Nagoya Port}} is the country's largest and busiest port, accounting for 10 percent of Japan's trade value.

[[File:Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 04780017 (8388173865).jpg|thumb|The {{w|Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant}}, a nuclear plant with seven units, is the largest single nuclear power station in the world.]]
As of 2011, 26.1% of energy in Japan was produced from petroleum, 24.9% from nuclear power, 21.3% from coal, 21.4% from natural gas, and 3.3% from hydropower. Japan lacks significant domestic reserves and so has a heavy dependence on imported energy. Japan has therefore aimed to diversify its sources and maintain high levels of energy efficiency.

[[File:Tokuyama Dam under involved construction.jpg|thumb|The {{w|Tokuyama Dam}} in {{w|Gifu Prefecture}} is the largest dam in Japan.]]
The government took responsibility for regulating the water and sanitation sector is shared between the {{w|Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)|Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare}} in charge of water supply for domestic use; the {{w|Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan)|Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism}} in charge of water resources development as well as sanitation; the {{w|Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment}} in charge of ambient water quality and environmental preservation; and the {{w|Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications}} in charge of performance benchmarking of utilities.

Access to an {{w|improved water source}} is universal in Japan. 97% of the population receives piped water supply from public utilities and 3% receive water from their own wells or unregulated small systems, mainly in rural areas.

==Demographics==
''Main articles: {{w|Demographics of Japan}}, {{w|Japanese people}}, {{w|Ethnic groups of Japan}}, {{w|Geography of Japan}}, {{w|List of metropolitan areas in Japan}}''

===Population===
[[File:Tokyo from the top of the SkyTree.JPG|thumb|left|The {{w|Greater Tokyo Area}} is ranked as the {{w|List of metropolitan areas by population|most populous metropolitan area}} in the world.]]

Japan is the second most populous {{w|island country}} with a {{w|Demography of Japan|population}} of 126.3 million (2019) 124.8 million are Japanese nationals (2019). {{w|Honshū}} is the world's {{w|List of islands by population|2nd most populous island}} and it has 80% of Japan's population. Due to the rugged and mountainous terrain with 66% forest, the population is clustered in urban areas on the coast, plains and valleys. Japan is an urban society with only 5% of the {{w|labor force}} working in agriculture. About 80 million of the urban population is heavily concentrated on the Pacific coast of {{w|Honshu}}. In 2010, 90.7% of the total Japanese population lived in cities.

The capital city {{w|Tokyo}} has a population of 13.8 million (2018). It is part of the {{w|Greater Tokyo Area}}, the biggest {{w|List of metropolitan areas by population|metropolitan area}} in the world with 38,140,000 people (2016). The area is {{convert|13,500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and the metro area has a {{w|population density}} of 2,642/km2.

Japanese society is {{w|linguistics|linguistically}}, ethnically and culturally homogeneous, composed of 98.1% ethnic Japanese, with small populations of foreign workers. {{w|Koreans in Japan|Zainichi Koreans}}, {{w|Chinese people in Japan|Chinese}}, {{w|Filipinos in Japan|Filipinos}}, {{w|Brazilian people|Brazilians}} mostly {{w|Japanese Brazilian|of Japanese descent}}, {{w|Peruvian people|Peruvians}} mostly {{w|Japanese Peruvian|of Japanese descent}} and {{w|Americans in Japan|Anglo-Americans}} are among the small minority groups in Japan. In 2003, there were about 134,700 non-Latin American Western and 345,500 {{w|Latin Americans|Latin American}} expatriates, 274,700 of whom were {{w|Brazilians in Japan|Brazilians}} (said to be primarily Japanese descendants, or ''{{w|nikkeijin}}'', along with their spouses),

[[File:Bjs48 02 Ainu.jpg|thumb|{{w|Ainu people|Ainu}}, an ethnic minority people from Japan]]
The most dominant native ethnic group is the {{w|Yamato people}}; primary minority groups include the indigenous {{w|Ainu people|Ainu}} and {{w|Ryukyuan people}}, as well as social minority groups like the ''{{w|burakumin}}''. There are persons of mixed ancestry incorporated among the Yamato, such as those from {{w|Bonin Islands|Ogasawara Archipelago}}. In 2014, foreign-born non-naturalized workers made up only 1.5% of the total population. Japan is widely regarded as ethnically homogeneous, and does not compile ethnicity or race statistics for Japanese nationals; sources varies regarding such claim, with at least one analysis describing Japan as a {{w|multiethnic society}} while another analysis put the number of Japanese nationals of recent {{w|Hāfu|foreign descent}} to be minimal. Most Japanese continue to see Japan as a {{w|Monoculturalism|monocultural society}}.

Japan has the second longest overall {{w|life expectancy}} at birth of any country in the world: 83.5 years for persons born in the period 2010–2015. The {{w|Aging of Japan|Japanese population is rapidly aging}} as a result of a {{w|post–World War II baby boom}} followed by a decrease in birth rates. In 2012, about 24.1 percent of the population was over 65, and the proportion is projected to rise to almost 40 percent by 2050.

On September 15, 2018, for the first time, 1 in 5 persons in Japan is 70 or older according to the {{w|Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications}}. 26.18 million people are 70 or older and accounted for 20.7 percent of the population. Elderly women crossed the 20 million line at 20.12 million, substantially outnumbering the nation's 15.45 million elderly men.

In 2018, the number of resident foreigners was 2.22 million in Japan (1.76% of the population). In 2018, net immigration rose for the sixth straight year with 165,000. The number of foreign workers was 1.46 million in 2018, 29.7% are in the manufacturing sector. 389,000 are from Vietnam and 316,000 are from China. On April 1, 2019, Japan's revised immigration law was enacted. The revision clarifies and better protects the rights of foreign workers. This helps reduce labor shortage in certain sectors of the economy. The reform changes the status of foreign workers to regular employees.

{{Largest cities of Japan}}

=== Languages ===
''Main articles: {{w|Languages of Japan}} and {{w|Japanese language}}''

More than 99 percent of the population speaks Japanese as their first language. Japanese is an {{w|agglutinative language}} distinguished by a system of {{w|Honorific speech in Japanese|honorifics}} reflecting the hierarchical nature of Japanese society, with verb forms and particular vocabulary indicating the relative status of speaker and listener. {{w|Japanese writing system|Japanese writing}} uses {{w|kanji}} ({{w|Chinese character}}s) and two sets of {{w|kana}} ({{w|syllabary|syllabaries}} based on {{w|Cursive script (East Asia)|cursive script}} and {{w|Radical (Chinese characters)|radical}} of kanji), as well as the {{w|Latin alphabet}} and {{w|Arabic numerals}}.

Besides Japanese, the {{w|Ryukyuan languages}} ({{w|Amami language|Amami}}, {{w|Kunigami language|Kunigami}}, {{w|Okinawan language|Okinawan}}, {{w|Miyako language|Miyako}}, {{w|Yaeyama language|Yaeyama}}, {{w|Yonaguni language|Yonaguni}}), also part of the {{w|Japonic languages|Japonic language family}}, are spoken in the {{w|Ryukyu Islands}} chain. Few children learn these languages, but in recent years the local governments have sought to increase awareness of the traditional languages. The {{w|Okinawan Japanese}} dialect is also spoken in the region. The {{w|Ainu language}}, which has no proven relationship to Japanese or any other language, is {{w|moribund language|moribund}}, with only a few elderly native speakers remaining in Hokkaido. Public and private schools generally require students to take Japanese language classes as well as {{w|English language education in Japan|English}} language courses.

===Religion===
''Main article: {{w|Religion in Japan}}''
[[File:Itsukushima Gate.jpg|thumb|left|The {{w|torii}} of {{w|Itsukushima Shrine|Itsukushima Shinto Shrine}} near {{w|Hiroshima}}, one of the {{w|Three Views of Japan}} and a UNESCO World Heritage Site]]

Japan has full religious freedom based on Article 20 of its {{w|Constitution of Japan|Constitution}}. Upper estimates suggest that 84–96 percent of the Japanese population subscribe to {{w|Shinto}} as its indigenous religion (50% to 80% of which considering degrees of syncretism with {{w|Buddhism in Japan|Buddhism}}, {{w|shinbutsu-shūgō}}). However, these estimates are based on people {{w|Danka system|affiliated}} with a temple, rather than the number of true believers. Many Japanese people practice both Shinto and {{w|Buddhism}}, they can either identify with both religions or describe themselves as non-religious or spiritual , despite participating in religious ceremonies as a cultural tradition, as a result religious statistics are often under-reported in Japan. The number of {{w|Shinto shrine}}s in Japan is estimated to be around 100,000. Other studies have suggested that only 30 percent of the population identify themselves as belonging to a religion. According to {{w|Edwin O. Reischauer|Edwin Reischauer}} and {{w|Marius Jansen}}, some 70–80% of the Japanese do not consider themselves believers in any religion. Nevertheless, the level of participation remains high, especially during {{w|Japanese festivals|festivals}} and occasions such as the {{w|Hatsumōde|first shrine visit}} of the {{w|Japanese New Year|New Year}}. {{w|Taoism}} and {{w|Confucianism}} from China have also influenced Japanese beliefs and customs. Japanese streets are decorated on {{w|Tanabata}}, {{w|Obon}} and {{w|Christmas}}.

[[File:Phoenix Hall, Byodo-in, November 2016 -01.jpg|thumb|The {{w|Byōdō-in}} Buddhist temple, located in {{w|Uji, Kyoto}}]]
Shinto is the largest religion in Japan, practiced by nearly 80% of the population, yet only a small percentage of these identify themselves as "Shintoists" in surveys. This is due to the fact that "Shinto" has different meanings in Japan: most of the Japanese attend Shinto shrines and beseech {{w|kami}} without belonging to Shinto organisations, and since there are no formal rituals to become a member of folk Shinto, Shinto membership is often estimated countinsg those who join organised Shinto sects. Shinto has 100,000 {{w|Shinto shrine|shrines}} and 78,890 {{w|kannushi|priests}} in the country. {{w|Buddhism}} first arrived in Japan in the 6th century; it was introduced in the year 538 or 552 from the kingdom of {{w|Baekje}} in Korea.

{{w|Christianity}} was first introduced into Japan by {{w|Jesuit}} missions starting in 1549. Today, fewer than 1% to 2.3% are {{w|Christianity in Japan|Christians}}, most of them living in the western part of the country, where the missionaries' activities were greatest during the 16th century. {{w|Nagasaki Prefecture}} has the highest percentage of Christians: about 5.1% in 1996. As of 2007, there were 32,036 Christian priests and pastors in Japan. Throughout the latest century, some Western customs originally related to Christianity (including {{w|marriage in Japan|Western style weddings}}, {{w|Valentine's Day}} and {{w|Christmas}}) have become popular as secular customs among many Japanese.

{{w|Islam in Japan}} is estimated to constitute about 80–90% of foreign born migrants and their children, primarily from Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran Many of the ethnic Japanese Muslims are those who convert upon marrying immigrant Muslims. The Pew Research Center estimated that there were 185,000 Muslims in Japan in 2010.

Other minority religions include {{w|Hinduism in Japan|Hinduism}}, {{w|Sikhism}}, {{w|Judaism}}, and {{w|Bahá'í Faith}}; since the mid-19th century numerous {{w|Japanese new religions|new religious movements}} have emerged in Japan.

==Education==
''Main article: {{w|Education in Japan}}''
[[File:Tokyo University Entrance Exam Results 6.JPG|thumb|Students celebrating after the announcement of the results of the {{w|Higher education in Japan#University entrance|entrance examinations}} to the {{w|University of Tokyo}}|left]]
Primary schools, secondary schools and universities were {{w|Education in the Empire of Japan|introduced}} in 1872 as a result of the Meiji Restoration. Since 1947, compulsory education in Japan comprises {{w|Elementary schools in Japan|elementary}} and {{w|Secondary education in Japan#Junior high school|junior high school}}, which together last for nine years (from age 6 to age 15). Almost all children continue their education at a three-year {{w|Secondary education in Japan|senior high school}}. The two top-ranking universities in Japan are the {{w|University of Tokyo}} and {{w|Kyoto University}}, which have produced {{w|List of Japanese Nobel laureates|16 Nobel Prize laureates}}.

Japan's education system played a central part in the country's recovery and {{w|Japanese post-war economic miracle|rapid economic growth}} in the decades following the end of {{w|World War II}}. After World War II, the {{w|Fundamental Law of Education}} and the School Education Law were enacted. The latter law defined the school system that would be in effect for many decades: six years of {{w|Primary education|elementary school}}, three years of {{w|Middle school|junior high school}}, three years of high school, and two or four years of university. Starting in April 2016, various schools began the academic year with elementary school and junior high school integrated into one nine-year compulsory schooling program, in hopes to mitigate {{w|school bullying|bullying}} and {{w|truancy}}; {{w|Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology|MEXT}} plans for this approach to be adopted nationwide in the coming years.

The {{w|Programme for International Student Assessment}} coordinated by the OECD currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of Japanese 15-year-olds as the third best in the world. Japan is one of the top-performing {{w|OECD}} countries in reading literacy, maths and sciences with the average student scoring 529 and has one of the world's highest-educated labor forces among OECD countries. The Japanese populace is well educated and its society highly values education as a platform for social mobility and for gaining employment in the country's competitive high-tech economy. The country's large pool of highly educated and skilled individuals is largely responsible for ushering Japan's post-war {{w|Japanese post-war economic miracle|economic growth}}. Tertiary-educated adults in Japan, particularly graduates in sciences and engineering benefit economically and socially from their education and skills in the country's high tech economy. Spending on education as a proportion of GDP is below the OECD average. Although expenditure per student is comparatively high in Japan, total expenditure relative to GDP remains small. In 2015, Japan's public spending on education amounted to just 4.1 percent of its GDP, below the OECD average of 5.0 percent. In 2017, the country ranked third for the percentage of 25 to 64 year-olds that have attained tertiary education with 51 percent. In addition, 60.4 percent Japanese aged 25 to 34 have some form of tertiary education qualification and bachelor's degrees are held by 30.4 percent of Japanese aged 25 to 64, the second most in the OECD after South Korea. As the Japanese economy is largely scientific and technological based, the labor market demands people who have achieved some form of higher education, particularly related to science and engineering in order to gain a competitive edge when searching for employment opportunities.

==Culture==
''Main article: {{w|Culture of Japan}}''
''See also: {{w|Japanese popular culture}}''

Japanese culture has evolved greatly from its origins. Contemporary culture combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. Traditional Japanese arts include {{w|Japanese handicrafts|crafts}} such as {{w|Japanese pottery and porcelain|ceramics}}, {{w|Kimono|textiles}}, {{w|Japanese lacquerware|lacquerware}}, {{w|Japanese sword|swords}} and {{w|Japanese traditional dolls|dolls}}; performances of {{w|bunraku}}, {{w|kabuki}}, {{w|noh}}, {{w|Japanese traditional dance|dance}}, and {{w|rakugo}}; and other practices, the {{w|Japanese tea ceremony|tea ceremony}}, {{w|ikebana}}, {{w|Japanese martial arts|martial arts}}, {{w|Japanese calligraphy|calligraphy}}, {{w|origami}}, {{w|onsen}}, {{w|Geisha}} and {{w|List of Japanese games|games}}. Japan has a developed system for the protection and promotion of both tangible and intangible {{w|Cultural Properties of Japan|Cultural Properties}} and {{w|National Treasures of Japan|National Treasures}}. {{w|World Heritage Sites in Japan|Twenty-two sites}} have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, eighteen of which are of cultural significance.

===Cinema===
''Main article: {{w|Cinema of Japan}}''

Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world; movies have been produced in Japan since 1897. The major studios of Japan are Toho, Toei, Shochiku, Daiei, Nikkatsu, and Shintoho.

Three Japanese films (''{{w|Rashomon (film)|Rashomon}}'', ''{{w|Seven Samurai}}'' and ''{{w|Tokyo Story}}'') made the ''{{w|Sight & Sound}}''s 2002 Critics and Directors Poll for the {{w|Films considered the greatest ever|best films of all time}}. {{w|Ishirō Honda}}'s ''{{w|Godzilla (1954 film)|Gojira}}'' became an international icon of Japan and spawned an entire subgenre of ''{{w|kaiju}}'' films, as well as the longest-running film franchise in history. Japan has won the {{w|Academy Awards|Academy Award}} for the {{w|Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film}} four times, more than any other Asian country.

===Music===
''Main article: {{w|Music of Japan}}''
[[File:春日神社ー篠山ー翁奉納P1011774.jpg|thumb|right|''{{w|Noh}}'' performance at a Shinto shrine|224x224px]]

Japanese music is eclectic and diverse. Many {{w|Traditional Japanese musical instruments|instruments}}, such as the {{w|Koto (instrument)|koto}}, were introduced in the 9th and 10th centuries. The accompanied {{w|recitative}} of the {{w|Noh}} drama dates from the 14th century and the popular {{w|Music of Japan#Folk music|folk music}}, with the guitar-like {{w|shamisen}}, from the sixteenth. Western classical music, introduced in the late 19th century, now forms an integral part of Japanese culture. The imperial court ensemble {{w|Gagaku}} has influenced the work of some {{w|20th-century classical music|modern}} Western composers.

Notable classical composers from Japan include {{w|Toru Takemitsu}} and {{w|Rentarō Taki}}. Popular music in post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European trends, which has led to the evolution of {{w|J-pop}}, or Japanese popular music. {{w|Karaoke}} is the most widely practiced cultural activity in Japan. A 1993 survey by the {{w|Agency for Cultural Affairs|Cultural Affairs Agency}} found that more Japanese had sung karaoke that year than had participated in traditional pursuits such as flower arranging (ikebana) or tea ceremonies.

===Media===
''Main article: {{w|Media of Japan}}''
[[File:Fuji TV headquarters and Aqua City Odaiba - 2006-05-03 edit.jpg|thumb|left|{{w|Fuji TV}} headquarters in {{w|Tokyo}}|198x198px]]

{{w|Television}} and {{w|newspaper}}s take an important role in Japanese mass media, though {{w|radio}} and {{w|magazine}}s also take a part. For a long time, newspapers were regarded as the most influential information medium in Japan, although audience attitudes towards television changed with the emergence of commercial news broadcasting in the mid-1980s. Over the 1990s, television surpassed newspapers as Japan's main information and entertainment medium.

There are 6 nationwide television networks: [[NHK]] ({{w|public broadcasting}}), [[Japan Television Network]] (JTN), [[Japanese Broadcasting System]] (JBS), [[Fuji Television Network]] (FTN), [[Asahi National network]] (ANN) and [[TX Network]] (TXN). For the most part, television networks were established based on capital investments by existing radio networks. {{w|Japanese variety show|Variety shows}}, {{w|Japanese television drama|serial dramas}}, and {{w|news}} constitute a large percentage of Japanese television shows. According to the 2015 NHK survey on television viewing in Japan, 79 percent of Japanese watch television every day. The average daily duration of television viewing was three hours.

Japanese readers have a choice of approximately 120 daily newspapers with a total of 50 million copies of set paper with an average subscription rate of 1.13 newspapers per household. The main newspapers' publishers are the ''{{w|Yomiuri Shimbun}}'', ''{{w|Asahi Shimbun}}'', ''{{w|Mainichi Shimbun}}'', ''{{w|The Nikkei}}'' and ''{{w|Sankei Shimbun}}''. According to a survey conducted by the Japanese Newspaper Association in June 1999, 85.4 per cent of men and 75 percent of women read a newspaper every day. Average daily reading times vary with 27.7 minutes on weekdays and 31.7 minutes on holidays and Sunday.

==See also==

{{Japan topics}}
{{Countries of Asia}}
{{Altverse II}}
{{WPAN}}

[[Category:Japan]]
[[Category:Countries in Asia]]
[[Category:East Asian countries]]
[[Category:G8 nations]]
[[Category:G20 nations]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Member states of the League of Nations]]
[[Category:Northeast Asian countries]]
[[Category:Transcontinental countries]]

Indonesia

2023-03-18T12:26:30Z

182.3.169.17:

{{Icons|C-class|Altverse II}}
{{Infobox ccountry
|conventional_long_name = People's Republic of Indonesia
|native_name = Republik Rakyat Indonesia
|image_flag = Flag of Indonesia (Altverse II).svg
|image_map = Indo mapg.png
|map_caption = Location of Indonesia
|image_symbol = Emblem of Indonesia.png
|symbol_type = Emblem
|alt_symbol =
|motto = {{w|Bhinneka Tunggal Ika}} Unity in Diversity
|national_anthem = ''Hari Merdeka'' Independence Day [[File:Hari Merdeka.ogg]]
|royal_anthem =
| capital = {{w|Makale}}
| largest_city = {{w|Jakarta}}
| coordinates =
| languages_type = Official language {{nobold|and national language}}
| languages = {{w|Indonesian language|Indonesian}}
|languages2_type=Regional languages
|languages2=Over {{w|Languages of Indonesia|700 languages}}
|ethnic_groups = Over {{w|Ethnic groups in Indonesia|1,300 ethnic groups}}
|demonym = Indonesian
|government_type = {{W|Unitary state|Unitary}} {{W|Directorial system|directorial}} {{W|socialist republic}}
|leader_title1 = Supreme Revolutionary Council
| leader_name1 = {{unbulleted list
|Supreme Leader: [[W|Artasasta A. Pasinggi]]
|Prime Minister: [[W|Prabowo Subianto]]

}}
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|legislature = People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance
|upper_house =
|lower_house =
| sovereignty_type = Independence
| sovereignty_note = from [[Japan]]
| established_event1 = Proclaimed
| established_date1 = 17 August 1956
| established_event2 =Recognition
| established_date2 = 27 August 1957
| area_km2 = 1,534,146
| area_label = Land
| area_rank =
| area_sq_mi =
| percent_water =
| area_label2 =
| area_data2 =
| population_estimate = 293,859,150
| population_estimate_year = 2021
| GDP_PPP = $4.350 trillion
| GDP_PPP_year = 2022
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $14,805
| GDP_nominal = $1.317 trillion
| GDP_nominal_year = 2022
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,483
| Gini = 24.6
| Gini_year = 2019
| HDI = 0.700
| HDI_year = 2019
| currency = Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
| currency_code = IDR
| time_zone = {{w|Time in Indonesia|various}}
| utc_offset = +7 to +9
| date_format = DD/MM/YYYY
| drives_on = left
| calling_code = {{w|+62}}
| cctld = {{w|.id}}}}
The '''People's Republic of Indonesia''' ({{w|Indonesian language|Indonesian}}: ''Republik Rakyat Indonesia'') is a sovereign state in {{w|Southeast Asia}} sharing land borders with Siam and German Papua and maritime borders with Tondo and Australia. Consisting of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi alongside parts of New Guinea and the {{w|Malayan peninsula}} Indonesia is one of the largest countries in the world being 1,534,146 km2. Home to over 700 languages it is also one of the most populous countries in the world with 293,859,150 people. Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country although is officially a secular country. The capital is {{w|Makale}} whilst the largest city is {{w|Jakarta}} with Surabaya, Kuala Lumper, Bandung, Seberang Perai and Medan remaining important cities.

The Indonesian archipelago has been inhabited by humans since 43,000 BCE. {{w|Austronesian people}} largely displaced the pre-existing {{w|Melanesian people}} around 2,000 BCE. The region became a centre of trade first under the {{w|Malay}} {{w|Buddhist}} {{w|thalassocratic}} {{w|Srivijaya}} {{w|empire}} from the 7th to the 12th century AD uniting the Malay peninsula . The {{w|Hindu}} {{w|Majapahit}} empire based in Java would be the last major Hindu imperial state stretching across modern-day Indonesia and often being considered to represent the height of the Indonesian Golden Age throughout its zenith from the 14th through to the 16th century AD. Islamisation began in the 13th century and largely integrated into existing native traditions, with the region being mostly Muslim by the end of the 16th century.

The region would be coveted by European colonial powers such as Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain. The majority of the region would {{w|Dutch East India Company in the Malay Archipelago|fall under the control}} of the {{w|Dutch East India Company}} (VOC) which enabled the Netherlands to dominate the spice trade as the VOC became the largest company on the plant. However the {{w|Fourth Anglo-Dutch War}} led to the VOC to become bankrupt leading to the Netherlands to nationalise their assets, including their land in Indonesia. During the Napoleonic Wars Indonesia fell under the control of first France and then Britain, who would annex the region themselves after 1816. The British East Indies akin to India was governed through a system of indirect rule with the British appointed Governor-General working with local rulers. Under European rule Christian missionaries introduced the religion to the region.

The concept of "Indonesia" as a nation-state emerged in the early 20th century but nationalist activity tended to be poorly-organised. Following the [[Great War I]] the region was transferred from British to Japanese control who formed the Indonesian Union. The Union was little more then a {{w|puppet state}} of Japan leading to pro-independence movements to shift to the left. The [[Great War II]] saw the [[Indonesian Revolution]] occur with the left-wing [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] taking a leading role against Japanese rule. At the conclusion of the war the People's Republic of Indonesia was recognised as independent with support from the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[People's Republic of China]]. Indonesia would side with China during the [[Sino–Continental split]] adopting "Nasakom" (nationalism, religion and communism) as a governing ideology. Indonesia survived the [[Revolutions of 2000]] through the adoption of the ''Reformasi'' agenda. Since then Indonesia has largely adopted economic and social reforms whilst retaining a communist government.

Indonesia consists of hundreds of distinct native ethnic and linguistic groups. The official language is Indonesian, a standardised variant of the Malay language. Since independence Indonesia has suffered numerous rebellions ranging from Papuan, Acehnese and peninsula Malayas alongside religious conflicts. Since economic reform Indonesia has developed from one of the poorest countries in the world to an industrialising one. Corruption, human right abuses and uneven development remain problems. Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

==Etymology==
==History==
===Early history===
===Colonial era===
In 1806 during the {{W|Napoleonic Wars}} the region would come under the ''de facto'' {{w|French and British interregnum in the Dutch East Indies#French interregnum 1806–1811|control}} of {{w|First French Empire|France}}. In 1810 Britain {{w|Invasion of the Spice Islands|invaded and annexed}} the Moluccas followed by {{w|Invasion of Java (1811)|Java}}. Under the rule of {{w|Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles}} the Dutch East Indies were absorbed into the {{w|East India Company}} as the entire region was centralised under British rule. The region was organised into the {{w|Straits Settlements}}, the directly-ruled Federated States and the indirectly-ruled Unfederated States all under the purview of the Governor-General. Due to the weak financial status of the East Indies the British government began to more directly organise the colony and in 1858 took it over entirely. Under British rule the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers was encouraged particularly in Malaya and the seat of administration moved from Batavia to Singapore. Initially, the British followed a policy of non-intervention in relations between the princely states with the colony regarded as a relative backwater. However increased investments in resource extraction and railroad construction soon led to the East Indies to become extremely profitable. In particular Malaya became the site of intensive resource extraction alongside Sumatra with rubber, coffee, tea, quinine, palm oil, oil, coal, tin and copper being important exports. British consolidation of the region was slow, with Aceh being annexed into the colony only in 1899 and northern part of Malaya being transferred from Siam in {{w|Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909|1909}}.

The development of nationalism across the region emerged in the early 1900s. The idea of the {{w|Malay race}} propagated by British colonial officials helped unify the identity of the people across the East Indies (albeit excluding the rapidly-growing Chinese population) alongside the shared experience under colonial rule. Improving educational opportunities also played a role. The first major nationalist organisation founded was {{w|Sarekat Islam}} in 1912 inspired primarily by Islamic and Javanese mysticism using the banner of Islam in opposition to colonial rule. European-inspired independence organisations emerged much slower - in 1922 the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] was founded which would later absorb other left-wing forces such as the {{w|Partai Tionghoa Indonesia}}, {{w|South Seas Communist Party}} and {{w|Kesatuan Melayu Muda}}. The British responded to this agitation by entrenching the rule of the sultans and rajas as well as deepening segregationist measures to encourage {{w|divide and rule}}.

During the [[Great War I]] the East Indies would be placed on the frontline as Japanese forces sought to invade the region. The vast resources of the East Indies made it attractive to Japan who used {{w|pan-Asianism}} to appeal to the native population to resist British rule. Britain was totally unprepared for the conflict in the region with Java and then Malaya being overrun by Japan in April 1932. Japan tapped into the pre-existing nationalist movement to consolidate their power initially sponsoring the {{w|Indonesian Nationalist Party}} of {{w|Sukarno}} and {{w|Mohammad Hatta}} in Java whilst supporting the Sultans in Sumatra and Malaya. The Japanese regarded the Chinese in the colony as potential enemies and so launched a campaign of {{w|genocide}} against them known as {{w|Sook Ching}}. The Treaty of Calcutta saw Britain cede the region to Japan who created the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK) to guide the region to independence.

The Japanese had during their occupation subjected the population to torture, sex slavery, arbitrary arrest and execution, and other war crimes particularly to Chinese and Indo-Anglo settlers. The forced labour system of {{w|rōmusha}} was also very unpopular and Japanese occupation had caused a collapse of the economy whose exports had declined due to the Japanese economy being smaller then its British counterpart. The Indonesian Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (IPAJA) composed mainly of ethnic Chinese guerrilla fighters continued to put up resistance to the Japanese. Japan also sought to continue to dominate the Indonesian economy which was at odds with Sukarno and Hatta who championed the idea of "''{{w|Autarky|Berdikari}}''" to achieve economic self-sufficiency. As a result Japan dissolved the BPUPK and arrested Hatta and Sukarno in 1940. In 1942 Japan oversaw the creation of the Indonesian Union, a federation that gave great power to the regional sultans whilst Singapore and Jakarta were directly annexed into Japan. The Union was on paper independent but in reality was dominated by the Japanese Residency-General in Singapore who continued the rōmusha system. Opposition to Japan was divided between left-wing groups such as the IPAJA, {{w|Gerindo}}, {{w|Gerwani}}, the PKI and increasingly the PNI and Islamic groups such as {{w|Darul Islam (Indonesia)|Darul Islam}} and {{w|Banser}}. Following the creation of the [[People's Republic of China]] Indonesian leftism became heavily inspired by {{w|Maoism}}. In 1951 in exile the PKI central committee absorbed over revolutionary organisations under its banner, most notably the PNI with Sukarno becoming the ''de facto'' anti-Japanese leader albeit in exile in Beijing.

The start of the [[Great War II]] saw many Indonesians conscripted into the {{w|Defenders of the Homeland|Pembela Tanah Air}} (PETA) to fight in Southeast Asia and Australia with Indonesia being used as a staging ground to invade the latter. The war became unpopular due to rationing, forced labour and continual military defeats to Allied forces. The IPAJA insurgency which had been a {{w|low-intensity conflict}} became more organised during the war, eventually launching a series of rebellions in Java and Malaya that crippled the Japanese. As the Japanese begun to enter peace talks the pro-Japanese union government fled the country as order broke down being replaced by a {{w|national unity government}} led by the Sultan of Yogyakarta {{w|Hamengkubuwono IX}} who signed a peace with the allies in April 1957 separate from Japan. The Union was reconfigured as the Republic of Indonesia led by Hamengkubuwono XI and other nationalists like Hatta.
===Independence===
In the aftermath of the [[Great War II]] the Indonesian Republic continued to face a civil war with left-wing forces. The republican government reached out to the leftist forces united under the leadership of the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) chaired by {{w|Sukarno}} for a unity government. The talks never succeeded and after receiving massive aid from the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[People's Republic of China|China]] the KNIP-led forces would eventually overrun much of the country and on the 27 December 1960 the Union government surrendered leading to Sukarno to declare the foundation of the People's Republic of Indonesia.

The new government was a broad tent of left-wing forces with there being a divide between the formerly-foreign based leadership and the radical ''permuda'' groups in Indonesia itself. The regime led by Sukarno, {{w|D. N. Aidit}}, {{w|Subandrio}} and {{w|Omar Dhani}} soon presided over the ''{{w|red terror|bersiap}}'' and ''{{w|land reform|aksi sepihak}}'' campaigns that purged political opponents and landlords respectively. A series of reforms were made to improve education, literacy and gender rights. However the creation of a single-party state through the consolidation of leftist groups into the PKI, legal campaigns of repression and centralisation exacerbated tensions. Insurgencies by Islamist rebels particularly in Aceh and Malaya further put pressure on the new government.

Although initially spurring industrialisation policies in 1966 a failed land reform led to a famine to break out. Lasting until 1969 the famine stunted Indonesia's economic and social development leading to the Maoist wing of the PKI to be purged. As a result the leadership adopted Sukarno's theory of Resopim - revolusi (revolution), sosialisme (socialism) and pimpinan nasional (national leadership) at the 4th Party Congress in 1971. The adoption of Resopim indicated the end of radical Maoism as a governing ideology. However anti-Chinese agitation in Malay and Java and renewed Islamist insurgencies led to the government to consolidate the single party state under the PKI.

In the mid-1990's the ''reformasi'' faction came to power in the PKI where they spearheaded the introduction of the {{w|socialist-oriented market economy}} introducing a degree of {{w|economic liberalisation}} encouraging economic deregulation and foreign investment while maintaining control over strategic industries particularly in resource extraction. These economic reforms combined with political decentralisation have resulted in economic growth to massively increase particularly in primary and secondary industries with Indonesia avoiding the [[Revolutions of 2000]]. Nevertheless continued insurgencies in Papua, Malaya and Aceh have complicated this economic and social progress particularly as inequality has increased.

==Government and politics==
===Government===
<gallery class="center" widths="120">
File:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, official presidential portrait (2004).jpg|Sukarto, Chairman of the Central Committee and Coordinating Minister of Defence.
File:Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister, Malaysia (1993-98) (14452317635) (cropped).jpg|Khaled Haji Razak, Coordinating Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Secretariat
File:Wiranto jawab pertanyaan wartawan (cropped).jpg|Chairul Rajasa, Coordinating Minister of Internal Security and Intelligence
File:Puan Maharani.jpg|Artika Silalahi, Chairwomen of the People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance
File:Joko Widodo 2019 official portrait.jpg|Wismoyo, Coordinating Minister of Administration and Domestic Affairs
File:The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on July 19, 2016 (cropped).jpg|Maruli Djojohadikusumo, Coordinating Minister of Ideological Supervision
</gallery>
Indonesia is a {{w|unitary}} {{w|socialist state}} that officially ascribes to Marxism-Landonism-Maoism-Resopim. The only legal political institution is the Consultative Body of Political Parties (BPP) led by the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] (PKI) and affiliated smaller parties, although other social and economic bodies such as the Central All-Indonesian Workers Organisation, {{w|People's Youth (Indonesia)|People's Youth}}, {{w|Gerwani}}, the Peasants Front of Indonesia and {{w|Lembaga Kebudajaan Rakjat|Lekra}} also hold political influence. Due to the monopoly of political power by the BPP and PKI Indonesia is typically considered to be an authoritarian state although the government has since the 1990s pursued a policy of regional {{w|devolution}}.

The highest body of the Indonesian central government is the Supreme Revolutionary Council, a collective head of state consisting of seven members who are concurrently members of the politburo within the PKI. The ''de facto'' leader is the Chairman of the PKI although within the SRC they are equal to their peers. The legislature is the People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance which is elected through direct elections and the executive is the National Council. Indonesia is divided into provinces led by centrally-appointed governors.

Under the concept of Resopim the PKI has emphasised the role of consultations (Musyawarah) and consensus (Mufakat). Drawing on tradition of the role of village elders the Indonesian government have called their model of socialist democracy as being modelled to Indonesian reality with consultation and consensus between social groups being mediated and arbitrated by the PKI and the national government. The PKI have claimed that Indonesia is currently in the process of advancing productive forces in the interest of class struggle whilst adapting to the material reality of Indonesia's weak productive base, ethnic and regional diversity and advanced ideological and cultural superstructure.

===Subdivisions===
===Armed forces and intelligence===
===Human rights===
===Foreign relations===

==Geography==
===Climate===
===Biodiversity===
===Environmental issues and pollution===
==Economy==
With a GDP of $4.350 trillion Indonesia is considered to be one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia and is typically seen as semi-industrialised. Singapore, Malaya and west Java are typically seen as being the main economic centres of the country particularly compared to the underdeveloped Papua. Although growth has been consistent in recent years serious deficiencies in economic management. uneven reform efforts and unbalanced macroeconomics have constrained further development. The government maintains an {{w|export-oriented industrialisation}} strategy taking advantage of its Strait of Malacca.

Although traditionally an agrarian economy Indonesia has since independence aimed to increase its industrial capacity. The main Indonesian exports are petroleum, timber, paper products, cotton cloth, natural gas, bauxite, and coal with agricultural exports including rice, coconuts, soybeans, bananas, coffee, tea, palm, rubber, and sugar cane.

Indonesia since independence has maintained a {{w|central planning|centrally planned}} {{w|command economy}} although since the mid-2000s has introduced significant {{w|economic liberalisation|liberalisation}} through the introduction of the {{w|socialist-oriented market economy}}. Five-year plans remain the basis of economic management through the Government Development Plans (Rencana Pembangunan Pemerintah; RPP) which detail planning targets, investment priorities and economic and social goals. The RPP system is determined through the Council for Economic Development and Industrial Planning (Dewan Pengembangan Ekonomi dan Perencanaan Industri; DPEPI) and Central All-Indonesian Workers Organisation (Sentral Organisasi Buruh Seluruh Indonesia; SOBSI). Since the 11th Party Congress in 2006 the government has committed to greater liberalisation combining previous rural privatisation and deregulation measures with price liberalisation and a greater focus on free-trade. Although tentative steps to liberalisation have been undertaken in recent years Indonesia remains a largely state-dominated economy with a non-convertible currency (the rupiah) and high military spending constraining investment in social and economic development.
===Economic history===
===Agriculture===
===Energy===
===Industry===
===Science and technology===
===Transportation===

==Demographics==
===Education===
===Ethnic groups===
===Healthcare===
===Language===
===Religion===
==Culture==
===Architecture===
===Art===
===Cuisine===
===Film and television===
===Holidays===
===Literature===
===Music===
===Society===
===Sports===
===Theatre and dance===

==See also==

{{Countries of Asia}}
{{Altverse II}}
{{En-WP attribution notice}}
[[Category:Indonesia| ]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Indonesia]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Countries in Melanesia]]
[[Category:Countries in Asia]]
[[Category:E7 nations]]
[[Category:G15 nations]]
[[Category:G20 nations]]
[[Category:Former Japanese colonies]]
[[Category:Former OPEC member states]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Member states of ASEAN]]
[[Category:Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]
[[Category:Member states of the League of Nations]]
[[Category:Newly industrializing countries]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Southeast Asian countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1956]]
[[Category:Transcontinental countries]]
[[Category:Malay-speaking countries and territories]]

Indonesia

2023-03-18T12:23:23Z

182.3.169.17:

{{Icons|C-class|Altverse II}}
{{Infobox ccountry
|conventional_long_name = People's Republic of Indonesia
|native_name = Republik Rakyat Indonesia
|image_flag = Flag of Indonesia (Altverse II).svg
|image_map = Indo mapg.png
|map_caption = Location of Indonesia
|image_symbol = Emblem of Indonesia.png
|symbol_type = Emblem
|alt_symbol =
|motto = {{w|Bhinneka Tunggal Ika}} Unity in Diversity
|national_anthem = ''Hari Merdeka'' Independence Day [[File:Hari Merdeka.ogg]]
|royal_anthem =
| capital = {{w|Makale}}
| largest_city = {{w|Jakarta}}
| coordinates =
| languages_type = Official language {{nobold|and national language}}
| languages = {{w|Indonesian language|Indonesian}}
|languages2_type=Regional languages
|languages2=Over {{w|Languages of Indonesia|700 languages}}
|ethnic_groups = Over {{w|Ethnic groups in Indonesia|1,300 ethnic groups}}
|demonym = Indonesian
|government_type = {{W|Unitary state|Unitary}} {{W|Directorial system|directorial}} {{W|socialist republic}}
|leader_title1 = Supreme Revolutionary Council
| leader_name1 = {{unbulleted list
|Supreme Leader: [[W|Artasasta A. Pasinggi]]
|Prime Minister: [[W|Prabowo Subianto]]

}}
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|legislature = People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance
|upper_house =
|lower_house =
| sovereignty_type = Independence
| sovereignty_note = from [[Japan]]
| established_event1 = Proclaimed
| established_date1 = 17 August 1956
| established_event2 =Recognition
| established_date2 = 27 August 1957
| area_km2 = 1,534,146
| area_label = Land
| area_rank =
| area_sq_mi =
| percent_water =
| area_label2 =
| area_data2 =
| population_estimate = 293,859,150
| population_estimate_year = 2021
| GDP_PPP = $4.350 trillion
| GDP_PPP_year = 2022
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $14,805
| GDP_nominal = $1.317 trillion
| GDP_nominal_year = 2022
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,483
| Gini = 24.6
| Gini_year = 2019
| HDI = 0.700
| HDI_year = 2019
| currency = Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
| currency_code = IDR
| time_zone = {{w|Time in Indonesia|various}}
| utc_offset = +7 to +9
| date_format = DD/MM/YYYY
| drives_on = left
| calling_code = {{w|+62}}
| cctld = {{w|.id}}}}
The '''People's Republic of Indonesia''' ({{w|Indonesian language|Indonesian}}: ''Republik Rakyat Indonesia'') is a sovereign state in {{w|Southeast Asia}} sharing land borders with Siam and German Papua and maritime borders with Tondo and Australia. Consisting of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi alongside parts of New Guinea and the {{w|Malayan peninsula}} Indonesia is one of the largest countries in the world being 1,534,146 km2. Home to over 700 languages it is also one of the most populous countries in the world with 293,859,150 people. Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country although is officially a secular country. The capital is {{w|Singapore}} whilst the largest city is {{w|Jakarta}} with Surabaya, Kuala Lumper, Bandung, Seberang Perai and Medan remaining important cities.

The Indonesian archipelago has been inhabited by humans since 43,000 BCE. {{w|Austronesian people}} largely displaced the pre-existing {{w|Melanesian people}} around 2,000 BCE. The region became a centre of trade first under the {{w|Malay}} {{w|Buddhist}} {{w|thalassocratic}} {{w|Srivijaya}} {{w|empire}} from the 7th to the 12th century AD uniting the Malay peninsula . The {{w|Hindu}} {{w|Majapahit}} empire based in Java would be the last major Hindu imperial state stretching across modern-day Indonesia and often being considered to represent the height of the Indonesian Golden Age throughout its zenith from the 14th through to the 16th century AD. Islamisation began in the 13th century and largely integrated into existing native traditions, with the region being mostly Muslim by the end of the 16th century.

The region would be coveted by European colonial powers such as Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain. The majority of the region would {{w|Dutch East India Company in the Malay Archipelago|fall under the control}} of the {{w|Dutch East India Company}} (VOC) which enabled the Netherlands to dominate the spice trade as the VOC became the largest company on the plant. However the {{w|Fourth Anglo-Dutch War}} led to the VOC to become bankrupt leading to the Netherlands to nationalise their assets, including their land in Indonesia. During the Napoleonic Wars Indonesia fell under the control of first France and then Britain, who would annex the region themselves after 1816. The British East Indies akin to India was governed through a system of indirect rule with the British appointed Governor-General working with local rulers. Under European rule Christian missionaries introduced the religion to the region.

The concept of "Indonesia" as a nation-state emerged in the early 20th century but nationalist activity tended to be poorly-organised. Following the [[Great War I]] the region was transferred from British to Japanese control who formed the Indonesian Union. The Union was little more then a {{w|puppet state}} of Japan leading to pro-independence movements to shift to the left. The [[Great War II]] saw the [[Indonesian Revolution]] occur with the left-wing [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] taking a leading role against Japanese rule. At the conclusion of the war the People's Republic of Indonesia was recognised as independent with support from the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[People's Republic of China]]. Indonesia would side with China during the [[Sino–Continental split]] adopting "Nasakom" (nationalism, religion and communism) as a governing ideology. Indonesia survived the [[Revolutions of 2000]] through the adoption of the ''Reformasi'' agenda. Since then Indonesia has largely adopted economic and social reforms whilst retaining a communist government.

Indonesia consists of hundreds of distinct native ethnic and linguistic groups. The official language is Indonesian, a standardised variant of the Malay language. Since independence Indonesia has suffered numerous rebellions ranging from Papuan, Acehnese and peninsula Malayas alongside religious conflicts. Since economic reform Indonesia has developed from one of the poorest countries in the world to an industrialising one. Corruption, human right abuses and uneven development remain problems. Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

==Etymology==
==History==
===Early history===
===Colonial era===
In 1806 during the {{W|Napoleonic Wars}} the region would come under the ''de facto'' {{w|French and British interregnum in the Dutch East Indies#French interregnum 1806–1811|control}} of {{w|First French Empire|France}}. In 1810 Britain {{w|Invasion of the Spice Islands|invaded and annexed}} the Moluccas followed by {{w|Invasion of Java (1811)|Java}}. Under the rule of {{w|Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles}} the Dutch East Indies were absorbed into the {{w|East India Company}} as the entire region was centralised under British rule. The region was organised into the {{w|Straits Settlements}}, the directly-ruled Federated States and the indirectly-ruled Unfederated States all under the purview of the Governor-General. Due to the weak financial status of the East Indies the British government began to more directly organise the colony and in 1858 took it over entirely. Under British rule the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers was encouraged particularly in Malaya and the seat of administration moved from Batavia to Singapore. Initially, the British followed a policy of non-intervention in relations between the princely states with the colony regarded as a relative backwater. However increased investments in resource extraction and railroad construction soon led to the East Indies to become extremely profitable. In particular Malaya became the site of intensive resource extraction alongside Sumatra with rubber, coffee, tea, quinine, palm oil, oil, coal, tin and copper being important exports. British consolidation of the region was slow, with Aceh being annexed into the colony only in 1899 and northern part of Malaya being transferred from Siam in {{w|Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909|1909}}.

The development of nationalism across the region emerged in the early 1900s. The idea of the {{w|Malay race}} propagated by British colonial officials helped unify the identity of the people across the East Indies (albeit excluding the rapidly-growing Chinese population) alongside the shared experience under colonial rule. Improving educational opportunities also played a role. The first major nationalist organisation founded was {{w|Sarekat Islam}} in 1912 inspired primarily by Islamic and Javanese mysticism using the banner of Islam in opposition to colonial rule. European-inspired independence organisations emerged much slower - in 1922 the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] was founded which would later absorb other left-wing forces such as the {{w|Partai Tionghoa Indonesia}}, {{w|South Seas Communist Party}} and {{w|Kesatuan Melayu Muda}}. The British responded to this agitation by entrenching the rule of the sultans and rajas as well as deepening segregationist measures to encourage {{w|divide and rule}}.

During the [[Great War I]] the East Indies would be placed on the frontline as Japanese forces sought to invade the region. The vast resources of the East Indies made it attractive to Japan who used {{w|pan-Asianism}} to appeal to the native population to resist British rule. Britain was totally unprepared for the conflict in the region with Java and then Malaya being overrun by Japan in April 1932. Japan tapped into the pre-existing nationalist movement to consolidate their power initially sponsoring the {{w|Indonesian Nationalist Party}} of {{w|Sukarno}} and {{w|Mohammad Hatta}} in Java whilst supporting the Sultans in Sumatra and Malaya. The Japanese regarded the Chinese in the colony as potential enemies and so launched a campaign of {{w|genocide}} against them known as {{w|Sook Ching}}. The Treaty of Calcutta saw Britain cede the region to Japan who created the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK) to guide the region to independence.

The Japanese had during their occupation subjected the population to torture, sex slavery, arbitrary arrest and execution, and other war crimes particularly to Chinese and Indo-Anglo settlers. The forced labour system of {{w|rōmusha}} was also very unpopular and Japanese occupation had caused a collapse of the economy whose exports had declined due to the Japanese economy being smaller then its British counterpart. The Indonesian Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (IPAJA) composed mainly of ethnic Chinese guerrilla fighters continued to put up resistance to the Japanese. Japan also sought to continue to dominate the Indonesian economy which was at odds with Sukarno and Hatta who championed the idea of "''{{w|Autarky|Berdikari}}''" to achieve economic self-sufficiency. As a result Japan dissolved the BPUPK and arrested Hatta and Sukarno in 1940. In 1942 Japan oversaw the creation of the Indonesian Union, a federation that gave great power to the regional sultans whilst Singapore and Jakarta were directly annexed into Japan. The Union was on paper independent but in reality was dominated by the Japanese Residency-General in Singapore who continued the rōmusha system. Opposition to Japan was divided between left-wing groups such as the IPAJA, {{w|Gerindo}}, {{w|Gerwani}}, the PKI and increasingly the PNI and Islamic groups such as {{w|Darul Islam (Indonesia)|Darul Islam}} and {{w|Banser}}. Following the creation of the [[People's Republic of China]] Indonesian leftism became heavily inspired by {{w|Maoism}}. In 1951 in exile the PKI central committee absorbed over revolutionary organisations under its banner, most notably the PNI with Sukarno becoming the ''de facto'' anti-Japanese leader albeit in exile in Beijing.

The start of the [[Great War II]] saw many Indonesians conscripted into the {{w|Defenders of the Homeland|Pembela Tanah Air}} (PETA) to fight in Southeast Asia and Australia with Indonesia being used as a staging ground to invade the latter. The war became unpopular due to rationing, forced labour and continual military defeats to Allied forces. The IPAJA insurgency which had been a {{w|low-intensity conflict}} became more organised during the war, eventually launching a series of rebellions in Java and Malaya that crippled the Japanese. As the Japanese begun to enter peace talks the pro-Japanese union government fled the country as order broke down being replaced by a {{w|national unity government}} led by the Sultan of Yogyakarta {{w|Hamengkubuwono IX}} who signed a peace with the allies in April 1957 separate from Japan. The Union was reconfigured as the Republic of Indonesia led by Hamengkubuwono XI and other nationalists like Hatta.
===Independence===
In the aftermath of the [[Great War II]] the Indonesian Republic continued to face a civil war with left-wing forces. The republican government reached out to the leftist forces united under the leadership of the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) chaired by {{w|Sukarno}} for a unity government. The talks never succeeded and after receiving massive aid from the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[People's Republic of China|China]] the KNIP-led forces would eventually overrun much of the country and on the 27 December 1960 the Union government surrendered leading to Sukarno to declare the foundation of the People's Republic of Indonesia.

The new government was a broad tent of left-wing forces with there being a divide between the formerly-foreign based leadership and the radical ''permuda'' groups in Indonesia itself. The regime led by Sukarno, {{w|D. N. Aidit}}, {{w|Subandrio}} and {{w|Omar Dhani}} soon presided over the ''{{w|red terror|bersiap}}'' and ''{{w|land reform|aksi sepihak}}'' campaigns that purged political opponents and landlords respectively. A series of reforms were made to improve education, literacy and gender rights. However the creation of a single-party state through the consolidation of leftist groups into the PKI, legal campaigns of repression and centralisation exacerbated tensions. Insurgencies by Islamist rebels particularly in Aceh and Malaya further put pressure on the new government.

Although initially spurring industrialisation policies in 1966 a failed land reform led to a famine to break out. Lasting until 1969 the famine stunted Indonesia's economic and social development leading to the Maoist wing of the PKI to be purged. As a result the leadership adopted Sukarno's theory of Resopim - revolusi (revolution), sosialisme (socialism) and pimpinan nasional (national leadership) at the 4th Party Congress in 1971. The adoption of Resopim indicated the end of radical Maoism as a governing ideology. However anti-Chinese agitation in Malay and Java and renewed Islamist insurgencies led to the government to consolidate the single party state under the PKI.

In the mid-1990's the ''reformasi'' faction came to power in the PKI where they spearheaded the introduction of the {{w|socialist-oriented market economy}} introducing a degree of {{w|economic liberalisation}} encouraging economic deregulation and foreign investment while maintaining control over strategic industries particularly in resource extraction. These economic reforms combined with political decentralisation have resulted in economic growth to massively increase particularly in primary and secondary industries with Indonesia avoiding the [[Revolutions of 2000]]. Nevertheless continued insurgencies in Papua, Malaya and Aceh have complicated this economic and social progress particularly as inequality has increased.

==Government and politics==
===Government===
<gallery class="center" widths="120">
File:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, official presidential portrait (2004).jpg|Sukarto, Chairman of the Central Committee and Coordinating Minister of Defence.
File:Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister, Malaysia (1993-98) (14452317635) (cropped).jpg|Khaled Haji Razak, Coordinating Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Secretariat
File:Wiranto jawab pertanyaan wartawan (cropped).jpg|Chairul Rajasa, Coordinating Minister of Internal Security and Intelligence
File:Puan Maharani.jpg|Artika Silalahi, Chairwomen of the People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance
File:Joko Widodo 2019 official portrait.jpg|Wismoyo, Coordinating Minister of Administration and Domestic Affairs
File:The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on July 19, 2016 (cropped).jpg|Maruli Djojohadikusumo, Coordinating Minister of Ideological Supervision
</gallery>
Indonesia is a {{w|unitary}} {{w|socialist state}} that officially ascribes to Marxism-Landonism-Maoism-Resopim. The only legal political institution is the Consultative Body of Political Parties (BPP) led by the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] (PKI) and affiliated smaller parties, although other social and economic bodies such as the Central All-Indonesian Workers Organisation, {{w|People's Youth (Indonesia)|People's Youth}}, {{w|Gerwani}}, the Peasants Front of Indonesia and {{w|Lembaga Kebudajaan Rakjat|Lekra}} also hold political influence. Due to the monopoly of political power by the BPP and PKI Indonesia is typically considered to be an authoritarian state although the government has since the 1990s pursued a policy of regional {{w|devolution}}.

The highest body of the Indonesian central government is the Supreme Revolutionary Council, a collective head of state consisting of seven members who are concurrently members of the politburo within the PKI. The ''de facto'' leader is the Chairman of the PKI although within the SRC they are equal to their peers. The legislature is the People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance which is elected through direct elections and the executive is the National Council. Indonesia is divided into provinces led by centrally-appointed governors.

Under the concept of Resopim the PKI has emphasised the role of consultations (Musyawarah) and consensus (Mufakat). Drawing on tradition of the role of village elders the Indonesian government have called their model of socialist democracy as being modelled to Indonesian reality with consultation and consensus between social groups being mediated and arbitrated by the PKI and the national government. The PKI have claimed that Indonesia is currently in the process of advancing productive forces in the interest of class struggle whilst adapting to the material reality of Indonesia's weak productive base, ethnic and regional diversity and advanced ideological and cultural superstructure.

===Subdivisions===
===Armed forces and intelligence===
===Human rights===
===Foreign relations===

==Geography==
===Climate===
===Biodiversity===
===Environmental issues and pollution===
==Economy==
With a GDP of $4.350 trillion Indonesia is considered to be one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia and is typically seen as semi-industrialised. Singapore, Malaya and west Java are typically seen as being the main economic centres of the country particularly compared to the underdeveloped Papua. Although growth has been consistent in recent years serious deficiencies in economic management. uneven reform efforts and unbalanced macroeconomics have constrained further development. The government maintains an {{w|export-oriented industrialisation}} strategy taking advantage of its Strait of Malacca.

Although traditionally an agrarian economy Indonesia has since independence aimed to increase its industrial capacity. The main Indonesian exports are petroleum, timber, paper products, cotton cloth, natural gas, bauxite, and coal with agricultural exports including rice, coconuts, soybeans, bananas, coffee, tea, palm, rubber, and sugar cane.

Indonesia since independence has maintained a {{w|central planning|centrally planned}} {{w|command economy}} although since the mid-2000s has introduced significant {{w|economic liberalisation|liberalisation}} through the introduction of the {{w|socialist-oriented market economy}}. Five-year plans remain the basis of economic management through the Government Development Plans (Rencana Pembangunan Pemerintah; RPP) which detail planning targets, investment priorities and economic and social goals. The RPP system is determined through the Council for Economic Development and Industrial Planning (Dewan Pengembangan Ekonomi dan Perencanaan Industri; DPEPI) and Central All-Indonesian Workers Organisation (Sentral Organisasi Buruh Seluruh Indonesia; SOBSI). Since the 11th Party Congress in 2006 the government has committed to greater liberalisation combining previous rural privatisation and deregulation measures with price liberalisation and a greater focus on free-trade. Although tentative steps to liberalisation have been undertaken in recent years Indonesia remains a largely state-dominated economy with a non-convertible currency (the rupiah) and high military spending constraining investment in social and economic development.
===Economic history===
===Agriculture===
===Energy===
===Industry===
===Science and technology===
===Transportation===

==Demographics==
===Education===
===Ethnic groups===
===Healthcare===
===Language===
===Religion===
==Culture==
===Architecture===
===Art===
===Cuisine===
===Film and television===
===Holidays===
===Literature===
===Music===
===Society===
===Sports===
===Theatre and dance===

==See also==

{{Countries of Asia}}
{{Altverse II}}
{{En-WP attribution notice}}
[[Category:Indonesia| ]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Indonesia]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Countries in Melanesia]]
[[Category:Countries in Asia]]
[[Category:E7 nations]]
[[Category:G15 nations]]
[[Category:G20 nations]]
[[Category:Former Japanese colonies]]
[[Category:Former OPEC member states]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Member states of ASEAN]]
[[Category:Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]
[[Category:Member states of the League of Nations]]
[[Category:Newly industrializing countries]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Southeast Asian countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1956]]
[[Category:Transcontinental countries]]
[[Category:Malay-speaking countries and territories]]

Indonesia

2023-03-18T12:19:04Z

182.3.169.17:

{{Icons|C-class|Altverse II}}
{{Infobox ccountry
|conventional_long_name = People's Republic of Indonesia
|native_name = Republik Rakyat Indonesia
|image_flag = Flag of Indonesia (Altverse II).svg
|image_map = Indo mapg.png
|map_caption = Location of Indonesia
|image_symbol = Emblem of Indonesia.png
|symbol_type = Emblem
|alt_symbol =
|motto = {{w|Bhinneka Tunggal Ika}} Unity in Diversity
|national_anthem = ''Hari Merdeka'' Independence Day [[File:Hari Merdeka.ogg]]
|royal_anthem =
| capital = {{w|Tana Toraja}}
| largest_city = {{w|Jakarta}}
| coordinates =
| languages_type = Official language {{nobold|and national language}}
| languages = {{w|Indonesian language|Indonesian}}
|languages2_type=Regional languages
|languages2=Over {{w|Languages of Indonesia|700 languages}}
|ethnic_groups = Over {{w|Ethnic groups in Indonesia|1,300 ethnic groups}}
|demonym = Indonesian
|government_type = {{W|Unitary state|Unitary}} {{W|Directorial system|directorial}} {{W|socialist republic}}
|leader_title1 = Supreme Revolutionary Council
| leader_name1 = {{unbulleted list
|Supreme Leader: [[W|Artasasta A. Pasinggi]]
|Prime Minister: [[W|Khaled Haji Razak]]

}}
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|legislature = People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance
|upper_house =
|lower_house =
| sovereignty_type = Independence
| sovereignty_note = from [[Japan]]
| established_event1 = Proclaimed
| established_date1 = 17 August 1956
| established_event2 =Recognition
| established_date2 = 27 August 1957
| area_km2 = 1,534,146
| area_label = Land
| area_rank =
| area_sq_mi =
| percent_water =
| area_label2 =
| area_data2 =
| population_estimate = 293,859,150
| population_estimate_year = 2021
| GDP_PPP = $4.350 trillion
| GDP_PPP_year = 2022
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $14,805
| GDP_nominal = $1.317 trillion
| GDP_nominal_year = 2022
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,483
| Gini = 24.6
| Gini_year = 2019
| HDI = 0.700
| HDI_year = 2019
| currency = Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
| currency_code = IDR
| time_zone = {{w|Time in Indonesia|various}}
| utc_offset = +7 to +9
| date_format = DD/MM/YYYY
| drives_on = left
| calling_code = {{w|+62}}
| cctld = {{w|.id}}}}
The '''People's Republic of Indonesia''' ({{w|Indonesian language|Indonesian}}: ''Republik Rakyat Indonesia'') is a sovereign state in {{w|Southeast Asia}} sharing land borders with Siam and German Papua and maritime borders with Tondo and Australia. Consisting of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi alongside parts of New Guinea and the {{w|Malayan peninsula}} Indonesia is one of the largest countries in the world being 1,534,146 km2. Home to over 700 languages it is also one of the most populous countries in the world with 293,859,150 people. Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country although is officially a secular country. The capital is {{w|Singapore}} whilst the largest city is {{w|Jakarta}} with Surabaya, Kuala Lumper, Bandung, Seberang Perai and Medan remaining important cities.

The Indonesian archipelago has been inhabited by humans since 43,000 BCE. {{w|Austronesian people}} largely displaced the pre-existing {{w|Melanesian people}} around 2,000 BCE. The region became a centre of trade first under the {{w|Malay}} {{w|Buddhist}} {{w|thalassocratic}} {{w|Srivijaya}} {{w|empire}} from the 7th to the 12th century AD uniting the Malay peninsula . The {{w|Hindu}} {{w|Majapahit}} empire based in Java would be the last major Hindu imperial state stretching across modern-day Indonesia and often being considered to represent the height of the Indonesian Golden Age throughout its zenith from the 14th through to the 16th century AD. Islamisation began in the 13th century and largely integrated into existing native traditions, with the region being mostly Muslim by the end of the 16th century.

The region would be coveted by European colonial powers such as Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain. The majority of the region would {{w|Dutch East India Company in the Malay Archipelago|fall under the control}} of the {{w|Dutch East India Company}} (VOC) which enabled the Netherlands to dominate the spice trade as the VOC became the largest company on the plant. However the {{w|Fourth Anglo-Dutch War}} led to the VOC to become bankrupt leading to the Netherlands to nationalise their assets, including their land in Indonesia. During the Napoleonic Wars Indonesia fell under the control of first France and then Britain, who would annex the region themselves after 1816. The British East Indies akin to India was governed through a system of indirect rule with the British appointed Governor-General working with local rulers. Under European rule Christian missionaries introduced the religion to the region.

The concept of "Indonesia" as a nation-state emerged in the early 20th century but nationalist activity tended to be poorly-organised. Following the [[Great War I]] the region was transferred from British to Japanese control who formed the Indonesian Union. The Union was little more then a {{w|puppet state}} of Japan leading to pro-independence movements to shift to the left. The [[Great War II]] saw the [[Indonesian Revolution]] occur with the left-wing [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] taking a leading role against Japanese rule. At the conclusion of the war the People's Republic of Indonesia was recognised as independent with support from the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[People's Republic of China]]. Indonesia would side with China during the [[Sino–Continental split]] adopting "Nasakom" (nationalism, religion and communism) as a governing ideology. Indonesia survived the [[Revolutions of 2000]] through the adoption of the ''Reformasi'' agenda. Since then Indonesia has largely adopted economic and social reforms whilst retaining a communist government.

Indonesia consists of hundreds of distinct native ethnic and linguistic groups. The official language is Indonesian, a standardised variant of the Malay language. Since independence Indonesia has suffered numerous rebellions ranging from Papuan, Acehnese and peninsula Malayas alongside religious conflicts. Since economic reform Indonesia has developed from one of the poorest countries in the world to an industrialising one. Corruption, human right abuses and uneven development remain problems. Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

==Etymology==
==History==
===Early history===
===Colonial era===
In 1806 during the {{W|Napoleonic Wars}} the region would come under the ''de facto'' {{w|French and British interregnum in the Dutch East Indies#French interregnum 1806–1811|control}} of {{w|First French Empire|France}}. In 1810 Britain {{w|Invasion of the Spice Islands|invaded and annexed}} the Moluccas followed by {{w|Invasion of Java (1811)|Java}}. Under the rule of {{w|Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles}} the Dutch East Indies were absorbed into the {{w|East India Company}} as the entire region was centralised under British rule. The region was organised into the {{w|Straits Settlements}}, the directly-ruled Federated States and the indirectly-ruled Unfederated States all under the purview of the Governor-General. Due to the weak financial status of the East Indies the British government began to more directly organise the colony and in 1858 took it over entirely. Under British rule the immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve as labourers was encouraged particularly in Malaya and the seat of administration moved from Batavia to Singapore. Initially, the British followed a policy of non-intervention in relations between the princely states with the colony regarded as a relative backwater. However increased investments in resource extraction and railroad construction soon led to the East Indies to become extremely profitable. In particular Malaya became the site of intensive resource extraction alongside Sumatra with rubber, coffee, tea, quinine, palm oil, oil, coal, tin and copper being important exports. British consolidation of the region was slow, with Aceh being annexed into the colony only in 1899 and northern part of Malaya being transferred from Siam in {{w|Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909|1909}}.

The development of nationalism across the region emerged in the early 1900s. The idea of the {{w|Malay race}} propagated by British colonial officials helped unify the identity of the people across the East Indies (albeit excluding the rapidly-growing Chinese population) alongside the shared experience under colonial rule. Improving educational opportunities also played a role. The first major nationalist organisation founded was {{w|Sarekat Islam}} in 1912 inspired primarily by Islamic and Javanese mysticism using the banner of Islam in opposition to colonial rule. European-inspired independence organisations emerged much slower - in 1922 the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] was founded which would later absorb other left-wing forces such as the {{w|Partai Tionghoa Indonesia}}, {{w|South Seas Communist Party}} and {{w|Kesatuan Melayu Muda}}. The British responded to this agitation by entrenching the rule of the sultans and rajas as well as deepening segregationist measures to encourage {{w|divide and rule}}.

During the [[Great War I]] the East Indies would be placed on the frontline as Japanese forces sought to invade the region. The vast resources of the East Indies made it attractive to Japan who used {{w|pan-Asianism}} to appeal to the native population to resist British rule. Britain was totally unprepared for the conflict in the region with Java and then Malaya being overrun by Japan in April 1932. Japan tapped into the pre-existing nationalist movement to consolidate their power initially sponsoring the {{w|Indonesian Nationalist Party}} of {{w|Sukarno}} and {{w|Mohammad Hatta}} in Java whilst supporting the Sultans in Sumatra and Malaya. The Japanese regarded the Chinese in the colony as potential enemies and so launched a campaign of {{w|genocide}} against them known as {{w|Sook Ching}}. The Treaty of Calcutta saw Britain cede the region to Japan who created the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK) to guide the region to independence.

The Japanese had during their occupation subjected the population to torture, sex slavery, arbitrary arrest and execution, and other war crimes particularly to Chinese and Indo-Anglo settlers. The forced labour system of {{w|rōmusha}} was also very unpopular and Japanese occupation had caused a collapse of the economy whose exports had declined due to the Japanese economy being smaller then its British counterpart. The Indonesian Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (IPAJA) composed mainly of ethnic Chinese guerrilla fighters continued to put up resistance to the Japanese. Japan also sought to continue to dominate the Indonesian economy which was at odds with Sukarno and Hatta who championed the idea of "''{{w|Autarky|Berdikari}}''" to achieve economic self-sufficiency. As a result Japan dissolved the BPUPK and arrested Hatta and Sukarno in 1940. In 1942 Japan oversaw the creation of the Indonesian Union, a federation that gave great power to the regional sultans whilst Singapore and Jakarta were directly annexed into Japan. The Union was on paper independent but in reality was dominated by the Japanese Residency-General in Singapore who continued the rōmusha system. Opposition to Japan was divided between left-wing groups such as the IPAJA, {{w|Gerindo}}, {{w|Gerwani}}, the PKI and increasingly the PNI and Islamic groups such as {{w|Darul Islam (Indonesia)|Darul Islam}} and {{w|Banser}}. Following the creation of the [[People's Republic of China]] Indonesian leftism became heavily inspired by {{w|Maoism}}. In 1951 in exile the PKI central committee absorbed over revolutionary organisations under its banner, most notably the PNI with Sukarno becoming the ''de facto'' anti-Japanese leader albeit in exile in Beijing.

The start of the [[Great War II]] saw many Indonesians conscripted into the {{w|Defenders of the Homeland|Pembela Tanah Air}} (PETA) to fight in Southeast Asia and Australia with Indonesia being used as a staging ground to invade the latter. The war became unpopular due to rationing, forced labour and continual military defeats to Allied forces. The IPAJA insurgency which had been a {{w|low-intensity conflict}} became more organised during the war, eventually launching a series of rebellions in Java and Malaya that crippled the Japanese. As the Japanese begun to enter peace talks the pro-Japanese union government fled the country as order broke down being replaced by a {{w|national unity government}} led by the Sultan of Yogyakarta {{w|Hamengkubuwono IX}} who signed a peace with the allies in April 1957 separate from Japan. The Union was reconfigured as the Republic of Indonesia led by Hamengkubuwono XI and other nationalists like Hatta.
===Independence===
In the aftermath of the [[Great War II]] the Indonesian Republic continued to face a civil war with left-wing forces. The republican government reached out to the leftist forces united under the leadership of the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) chaired by {{w|Sukarno}} for a unity government. The talks never succeeded and after receiving massive aid from the [[United Commonwealth]] and [[People's Republic of China|China]] the KNIP-led forces would eventually overrun much of the country and on the 27 December 1960 the Union government surrendered leading to Sukarno to declare the foundation of the People's Republic of Indonesia.

The new government was a broad tent of left-wing forces with there being a divide between the formerly-foreign based leadership and the radical ''permuda'' groups in Indonesia itself. The regime led by Sukarno, {{w|D. N. Aidit}}, {{w|Subandrio}} and {{w|Omar Dhani}} soon presided over the ''{{w|red terror|bersiap}}'' and ''{{w|land reform|aksi sepihak}}'' campaigns that purged political opponents and landlords respectively. A series of reforms were made to improve education, literacy and gender rights. However the creation of a single-party state through the consolidation of leftist groups into the PKI, legal campaigns of repression and centralisation exacerbated tensions. Insurgencies by Islamist rebels particularly in Aceh and Malaya further put pressure on the new government.

Although initially spurring industrialisation policies in 1966 a failed land reform led to a famine to break out. Lasting until 1969 the famine stunted Indonesia's economic and social development leading to the Maoist wing of the PKI to be purged. As a result the leadership adopted Sukarno's theory of Resopim - revolusi (revolution), sosialisme (socialism) and pimpinan nasional (national leadership) at the 4th Party Congress in 1971. The adoption of Resopim indicated the end of radical Maoism as a governing ideology. However anti-Chinese agitation in Malay and Java and renewed Islamist insurgencies led to the government to consolidate the single party state under the PKI.

In the mid-1990's the ''reformasi'' faction came to power in the PKI where they spearheaded the introduction of the {{w|socialist-oriented market economy}} introducing a degree of {{w|economic liberalisation}} encouraging economic deregulation and foreign investment while maintaining control over strategic industries particularly in resource extraction. These economic reforms combined with political decentralisation have resulted in economic growth to massively increase particularly in primary and secondary industries with Indonesia avoiding the [[Revolutions of 2000]]. Nevertheless continued insurgencies in Papua, Malaya and Aceh have complicated this economic and social progress particularly as inequality has increased.

==Government and politics==
===Government===
<gallery class="center" widths="120">
File:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, official presidential portrait (2004).jpg|Sukarto, Chairman of the Central Committee and Coordinating Minister of Defence.
File:Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister, Malaysia (1993-98) (14452317635) (cropped).jpg|Khaled Haji Razak, Coordinating Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Secretariat
File:Wiranto jawab pertanyaan wartawan (cropped).jpg|Chairul Rajasa, Coordinating Minister of Internal Security and Intelligence
File:Puan Maharani.jpg|Artika Silalahi, Chairwomen of the People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance
File:Joko Widodo 2019 official portrait.jpg|Wismoyo, Coordinating Minister of Administration and Domestic Affairs
File:The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on July 19, 2016 (cropped).jpg|Maruli Djojohadikusumo, Coordinating Minister of Ideological Supervision
</gallery>
Indonesia is a {{w|unitary}} {{w|socialist state}} that officially ascribes to Marxism-Landonism-Maoism-Resopim. The only legal political institution is the Consultative Body of Political Parties (BPP) led by the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]] (PKI) and affiliated smaller parties, although other social and economic bodies such as the Central All-Indonesian Workers Organisation, {{w|People's Youth (Indonesia)|People's Youth}}, {{w|Gerwani}}, the Peasants Front of Indonesia and {{w|Lembaga Kebudajaan Rakjat|Lekra}} also hold political influence. Due to the monopoly of political power by the BPP and PKI Indonesia is typically considered to be an authoritarian state although the government has since the 1990s pursued a policy of regional {{w|devolution}}.

The highest body of the Indonesian central government is the Supreme Revolutionary Council, a collective head of state consisting of seven members who are concurrently members of the politburo within the PKI. The ''de facto'' leader is the Chairman of the PKI although within the SRC they are equal to their peers. The legislature is the People's Representative Council of Mutual Assistance which is elected through direct elections and the executive is the National Council. Indonesia is divided into provinces led by centrally-appointed governors.

Under the concept of Resopim the PKI has emphasised the role of consultations (Musyawarah) and consensus (Mufakat). Drawing on tradition of the role of village elders the Indonesian government have called their model of socialist democracy as being modelled to Indonesian reality with consultation and consensus between social groups being mediated and arbitrated by the PKI and the national government. The PKI have claimed that Indonesia is currently in the process of advancing productive forces in the interest of class struggle whilst adapting to the material reality of Indonesia's weak productive base, ethnic and regional diversity and advanced ideological and cultural superstructure.

===Subdivisions===
===Armed forces and intelligence===
===Human rights===
===Foreign relations===

==Geography==
===Climate===
===Biodiversity===
===Environmental issues and pollution===
==Economy==
With a GDP of $4.350 trillion Indonesia is considered to be one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia and is typically seen as semi-industrialised. Singapore, Malaya and west Java are typically seen as being the main economic centres of the country particularly compared to the underdeveloped Papua. Although growth has been consistent in recent years serious deficiencies in economic management. uneven reform efforts and unbalanced macroeconomics have constrained further development. The government maintains an {{w|export-oriented industrialisation}} strategy taking advantage of its Strait of Malacca.

Although traditionally an agrarian economy Indonesia has since independence aimed to increase its industrial capacity. The main Indonesian exports are petroleum, timber, paper products, cotton cloth, natural gas, bauxite, and coal with agricultural exports including rice, coconuts, soybeans, bananas, coffee, tea, palm, rubber, and sugar cane.

Indonesia since independence has maintained a {{w|central planning|centrally planned}} {{w|command economy}} although since the mid-2000s has introduced significant {{w|economic liberalisation|liberalisation}} through the introduction of the {{w|socialist-oriented market economy}}. Five-year plans remain the basis of economic management through the Government Development Plans (Rencana Pembangunan Pemerintah; RPP) which detail planning targets, investment priorities and economic and social goals. The RPP system is determined through the Council for Economic Development and Industrial Planning (Dewan Pengembangan Ekonomi dan Perencanaan Industri; DPEPI) and Central All-Indonesian Workers Organisation (Sentral Organisasi Buruh Seluruh Indonesia; SOBSI). Since the 11th Party Congress in 2006 the government has committed to greater liberalisation combining previous rural privatisation and deregulation measures with price liberalisation and a greater focus on free-trade. Although tentative steps to liberalisation have been undertaken in recent years Indonesia remains a largely state-dominated economy with a non-convertible currency (the rupiah) and high military spending constraining investment in social and economic development.
===Economic history===
===Agriculture===
===Energy===
===Industry===
===Science and technology===
===Transportation===

==Demographics==
===Education===
===Ethnic groups===
===Healthcare===
===Language===
===Religion===
==Culture==
===Architecture===
===Art===
===Cuisine===
===Film and television===
===Holidays===
===Literature===
===Music===
===Society===
===Sports===
===Theatre and dance===

==See also==

{{Countries of Asia}}
{{Altverse II}}
{{En-WP attribution notice}}
[[Category:Indonesia| ]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Indonesia]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Countries in Melanesia]]
[[Category:Countries in Asia]]
[[Category:E7 nations]]
[[Category:G15 nations]]
[[Category:G20 nations]]
[[Category:Former Japanese colonies]]
[[Category:Former OPEC member states]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Member states of ASEAN]]
[[Category:Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]
[[Category:Member states of the League of Nations]]
[[Category:Newly industrializing countries]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Southeast Asian countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1956]]
[[Category:Transcontinental countries]]
[[Category:Malay-speaking countries and territories]]