The Government of Japan
Overview
- Capital: Tokyo
- Administrative regions: 47 prefectures
- Government & legal system: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy; civil law system. (government site)
- Head of state / government: Emperor Naruhito (ceremonial head of state); Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister (head of government) (official page)
- Official language: Japanese (de facto national language; no de jure official language)
- National Day: February 11 (National Foundation Day)
- Other official holidays: Emperor’s Birthday (Feb 23), Golden Week (late Apr–early May), Culture Day (Nov 3)
- Japan International Cooperation Agency/ JICA (official site)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official site)
- Regional / international memberships: United Nations/ UN, G7, G20, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development/ OECD, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation/ APEC, World Trade Organization/ WTO
- Visa / entry requirements: Visa-free for many nationalities for short stays. (visa info)
- Currency: Japanese yen (JPY) — current series depicts Eiichi Shibusawa (¥10,000), Umeko Tsuda (¥5,000), and Kitasato Shibasaburō (¥1,000), with Mount Fuji on the reverse of the ¥1,000 note.
- Flag symbolism: White field with a red disc (Hinomaru) — the disc represents the sun, reflecting Japan’s association with ‘the Land of the Rising Sun.
