United Technate of Japan 日本ユナイテッドテクネイト Timeline: An Honorable Retelling | ||||||
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Anthem: 軍艦行進曲 "Warship March" |
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Capital (and largest city) | Tokyo | |||||
Other cities | Yokohama, Osaka, Sapporo, Kyoto, Choten Peak | |||||
Official languages | Japanese | |||||
Religion | Roman Catholicism, Shinto | |||||
Demonym | Japanese | |||||
Government | Federal technocratic constitutional republic | |||||
- | Director-General | Nobuyuki Baba | ||||
- | Prime Minister | Ichirō Matsui | ||||
Legislature | National Assembly | |||||
Establishment | ||||||
- | Imperial dynasty established | 660 BC (mythological) 539 AD (historical) | ||||
- | Meiji constitution | 29 November 1890 | ||||
- | Current constitution | 21 June 1958 | ||||
Population | ||||||
- | 2023 estimate | 139,416,877 | ||||
Currency | Japanese yen (¥) | |||||
Date formats | dd/mm/yy | |||||
Drives on the | right | |||||
Calling code | +81 |
Japan (Japanese: 日本, Nippon or Nihon), officially the United Technate of Japan (Japanese: 日本ユナイテッドテクネイト) is a nation located mostly as an island country in East Asia, with territories in Muqaddas. Its mainland in the northwest Pacific Ocean and is bordered on the west by the Mer de l'Est (known locally as the Sea of Japan), and shares maritime borders with China, and Korea, while the territory of the Furanshisu Islands (Japanese: フランシス諸島) is located in Muqaddas and shares land borders with Puelmapu.
Japan has over 125 million inhabitants and is one of the most populous countries in the world, as well as one of the most densely populated. Most of Japan's territory is mountainous, and its mainland has a high concentration or urban population in narrow coastal plains. Japan is divided into 49 administrative prefectures (47 on the mainland) and nine traditional regions.
Japan has been inhabited since the Upper Paleolithic period (30,000 BC). Between the fourth and ninth centuries, the kingdoms of Japan became unified under an emperor and the imperial court based in Heian-kyō. Beginning in the 12th century, political power was held by a series of military dictators (shōgun) and feudal lords (daimyō), and enforced by a class of warrior nobility (nobles). Japanese history would take a sharp turn during the Azuchi-Momoyama period after winning the Imjin War, in which established Japan as a major power in East Asia, allowing them to establish colonies in the New World such as Hawaii, the Sun's Land (now Kosuto), and the St. Francis Islands. However, a series of wars would lead to the downfall of the First Japanese Empire by the 19th century. A period of instability within Japan would lead to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 which brought a new Western-based imperial rule and a period of rapid industrialization and modernization. After successful Fourth Great War campaigns against Bharat, another period of instability occurred throughout Japan against the military dictatorship. After the 1958 coup d'état, Japan established a republican constitution that is still in effect until this day.
Japan is a developed country and a great power, being one of the largest economies by nominal GDP. A global leader in the automotive, robotics, and electronics industries, the country has made significant contributions to science and technology, and is one of the world's largest exporters and importers. It is part of multiple major international and intergovernmental institutions, being one of the founding members of the League to Enforce Peace and the Global Treaty Organization. It is also a major player in space exploration.
Japan is considered a cultural superpower as its culture is well known around the world, including its art, cuisine, film, music, and popular culture, which encompasses prominent manga, anime, and video game industries.
History[]
Prehistoric to classical history[]

Page from a copy of the Nihon Shoki, early Heian period (794-1185); the second-oldest book of classical Japanese history.
Around 30,000 BC, the islands of Japan witnessed the emergence of a Paleolithic culture, marking the earliest known human habitation. Subsequently, from approximately 14,500 BC, a transition occurred, leading to a Mesolithic to Neolithic lifestyle among semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer communities. Their way of life was distinguished by pit dwellings and basic agricultural practices. Notably, this period yielded some of the earliest examples of pottery, crafted from clay. By 700 BC, the Yayoi people, who spoke Japonic languages, commenced their migration from the Korean Peninsula to Japan. This influx intertwined with the existing Jōmon culture, initiating the Yayoi period. During this era, significant changes unfolded, such as the adoption of wet-rice farming, the introduction of a distinct pottery style, and the assimilation of metallurgical techniques from China and Korea. Legend traces the establishment of a kingdom in central Japan back to Emperor Jimmu, descendant of Amaterasu, around 660 BC, thus commencing an enduring imperial lineage. Written records first mentioned Japan in 111 AD, within the Chinese Book of Han. Buddhism made its way to Japan from Baekje, a Korean kingdom, in 552, yet its evolution in Japan primarily reflected Chinese influence. Despite initial opposition, Buddhism gained traction among the elite, notably championed by figures like Prince Shōtoku, eventually permeating Japanese society during the Asuka period (592–710).

Legendary Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇, Jinmu-tennō)
In 645, under the leadership of Prince Naka no Ōe and Fujiwara no Kamatari, the government embarked on the transformative Taika Reforms, a sweeping endeavor inspired by Confucian ideals and Chinese philosophies. Rooted in the principles of centralization, these reforms aimed to bolster the authority of the imperial court. Central to the initiative was the comprehensive land reform, which entailed the nationalization of all land in Japan, redistributing it equitably among farmers, and instituting a household registry for taxation purposes. Furthermore, the reforms sought to deepen ties with China through the dispatch of envoys and scholars to study various aspects of Chinese civilization, encompassing writing, governance, arts, and religion. The Jinshin War of 672, a brutal internal conflict between Prince Ōama and his nephew Prince Ōtomo, served as a pivotal juncture prompting further administrative restructuring.
The pinnacle of these efforts materialized with the promulgation of the Taihō Code, consolidating existing laws and delineating the framework for central and local governance. This legal overhaul ushered in the ritsuryō state, a system of government modeled after the centralized Chinese administrative apparatus, enduring for five centuries. The subsequent Nara period (710–784) witnessed the emergence of a Japanese state centered around the Imperial Court in Heijō-kyō (modern Nara). Noteworthy developments included the rise of a budding literary culture, marked by the completion of seminal works like the Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki (720), alongside the flourishing of Buddhist-inspired artistic expressions and architectural endeavors. Tragically, the era was marred by a devastating smallpox epidemic from 735 to 737, claiming a staggering portion of Japan's populace. In 784, Emperor Kanmu relocated the capital to Heian-kyō (modern-day Kyoto), inaugurating the Heian period (794–1185), which witnessed the blossoming of a distinctively indigenous Japanese culture. It was during this epoch that masterpieces like Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji and the lyrics of Japan's national anthem, "Kimigayo," were penned, solidifying Japan's cultural legacy.
Feudal era and First Japanese Empire[]
Japan's feudal epoch unfolded against a backdrop dominated by the ascendancy of the nobles, a warrior class that wielded power and influence. The pivotal moment came in 1185, following the decisive victory of the Minamoto clan over the Taira clan in the Genpei War, when nobles Minamoto no Yoritomo established a military regime in Kamakura. Subsequently, upon Yoritomo's demise, the Hōjō clan assumed control as regents for the shōgun, consolidating authority. Amidst this martial milieu, the Kamakura period (1185–1333) witnessed the introduction and flourishing of Zen Buddhism, imported from China, captivating the nobles elite. The Kamakura shogunate eventually succumbed to internal strife, yielding to Emperor Go-Daigo's ascendancy.

Map of Kosuto, the first Japanese colony in the New World, 1737
However, Go-Daigo's reign was short-lived, as he fell to Ashikaga Takauji's forces in 1336, heralding the advent of the Muromachi period (1336–1573). Under the Ashikaga shogunate's rule, attempts to rein in the feudal warlords, or daimyō, proved futile, plunging Japan into a protracted civil conflict known as the Sengoku period, or "Warring States," spanning a century. The dawn of the 16th century ushered in a new chapter in Japan's history with the arrival of Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries, initiating direct cultural and commercial exchanges with the Western world. Harnessing European technology and firearms, Oda Nobunaga emerged as a formidable figure, leveraging his military prowess to subdue rival daimyō and consolidate authority. This period of consolidation came to be known as the Azuchi–Momoyama period, marked by Nobunaga's ambitious endeavors and the transformation of Japan's political landscape. After the death of Nobunaga in 1582, his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, unified the nation in the early 1590s and began a period of expansion that saw Japan conquer Korea, defeating the Song dynasty for control over the peninsula.

Toyotomi Hideyori, a member of the Toyotomi clan, and the "Great Reformer" of the nation, ruled in the 17th century, and brought about an era of unprecedented expansion
Tokugawa Ieyasu served as regent for Hideyoshi's son Toyotomi Hideyori and used his position to gain political and military support. However, he was assassinated in 1599 before he could implement any major reforms. A brief period of political instability concluded with the signing of the Decree of Kagoshima, which granted temporary constitutional powers to the monarch until he came of age. When the other shoguns assumed control, they immediately began a policy of expansion, conquering the remainder of the Japanese island chain, and pursuing an effort of colonialism to the south. Japan's maritime empire rapidly extended across the Pacific, with modern Nusantara and Borneo falling under Japanese dominion. In 1604, Japanese explorers had reached the western coasts of Columbia, and established the territory of Kosuto. Hideyori came to rule over the country in 1613, and continued this policy, extracting resources from occupied territories and colonies to expand upon the nation's prospects.
However, the Toyotomi clan came under increased threats from foreign powers. In 1607, it faced a conflict with the Song Dynasty in China, which nearly saw it lose control over the majority of its territories in the Pacific. Nonetheless, the Battle of Jeju Bay in 1610 asserted Japanese naval strength was to remain unrivaled for the next several centuries and saw Japan take control over Song-dominated Hawaii, giving it unmatched hegemony over the Pacific Ocean. Toyotomi Kunimatsu, Hideyori's successor, pursued a policy of urbanization and infrastructure development, and gave adherents to Shintoism cultural freedom outside of the country, allowing for the "Shinto Exodus" across the nation's colonies, most notably in Kosuto and Tenjiku. The Empire of Japan held several ports in modern Naomh Lazarus, and maintained a steady but uncertain trade alliance with Portugal. Modern Japan's economic growth began in this period, resulting in roads and water transportation routes, as well as financial instruments such as futures contracts, banking and insurance of the Osaka rice brokers. The study of Western sciences (rangaku) continued through contact with the Dutch enclave in Nagasaki. The Edo period gave rise to kokugaku ("national studies"), the study of Japan by the Japanese.
Imperial decline, wars with Europe, and end of the First Empire[]
Japan's frequent attempts at conquering the Lazurino Islands often ended in failure, and the empire reached its zenith by 1750, followed by an era of relative decline. The corruption of the Toyotomi clan had given way to the seizure of power by Konoe Iehiro in 1732. The Konoe clan could not reconcile the nation's persistent conflicts with their expenditures, and bankruptcies led to a civil war in 1755, which was narrowly won by the clan. In 1817, Japan faced another imminent disaster with the loss of Kosuto to Mexica, leaving it without an important trading part at the opposite end of the Pacific. This era was further complicated at the expense of the Tenpō famine of 1833, which resulted in thousands of deaths. The famine was most severe in northern Honshū and was caused by flooding and cold weather. The countryside experienced severe rains that drowned crops and unseasonable cold temperatures. In an effort to stem the effects of the famine, the northern domain of Hirosaki banned all exports of rice from 1833 to 1838 - nevertheless, the population of the city decreased by 80,000, more than half of which was from people fleeing the region itself.

Cartoon from Marumaru Chinbun [ja], 24 May 1879, with the caption 'Japan trying to obtain sole possession of the "Colossus of Riukiu" by pulling China's leg'
Simultaneously, the populace was inspired by new concepts and academic disciplines. The introduction of Dutch literature into Japan piqued an interest in Western studies, known as rangaku or "Dutch learning." For example, physician Sugita Genpaku applied Western medical theories to ignite a transformation in Japanese perceptions of human anatomy. The academic discipline of kokugaku, or "national learning," founded by scholars like Motoori Norinaga and Hirata Atsutane, championed purportedly indigenous Japanese values. It challenged the Chinese-influenced Neo-Confucianism promoted by the shogunate and highlighted the Emperor's divine right, rooted in Japan's legendary history, often called the "Age of the Gods."
The arrival in Korea of a fleet of French ships commanded by Amédée Courbet threw Japan into turmoil. Remaining Japanese assets in Korea and the Pacific had often been seldom occupied due to high inflation and economic insufficiency. In 1863, under direct orders from Napoleon III, France began a series of campaigns intending to capitulate Japanese domains in the aftermath of their withdrawal from Bharat. German, French, and Swedish vessels likewise imposed an embargo that enforced a policy of stringent isolationism on the country, bringing the shogunate's rule into question. After the brief Korean conflict, Japan agreed nonetheless to relinquish its territories there, granting France the right to a colonial domain. Remaining Pacific islands were occupied by Germany, Portugal, and Sweden. Despite this, Japanese fleets retained control of Polynesian Islands, leaving them continued access to their territories in the Furanshishu Islands, as well as ports in Gavayi.
The inability of the shogunate to counter the Western powers incited anger among many Japanese, especially those from the southern domains of Chōshū and Satsuma. Nobles from these areas, motivated by the nationalist teachings of the kokugaku school, embraced the slogan "sonnō jōi" ("revere the emperor, expel the barbarians"). These domains subsequently formed an alliance. Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who had seized power to become shogun in August 1866, faced difficulty maintaining his position amid ongoing civil unrest. In 1868, the Chōshū and Satsuma domains persuaded Emperor Meiji and his advisors to issue a decree to dismantle the Tokugawa shogunate. The combined forces of Chōshū and Satsuma advanced on Edo, and the subsequent Boshin War resulted in the shogunate's collapse.
Political instability, reformation, and formation of the Second Japanese Empire[]
In 1869, the emperor was nominally restored to supreme power, and the imperial family relocated to Edo. However, the true power lay with former nobles from Chōshū and Satsuma, not the fifteen-year-old emperor. These influential figures, the Meiji oligarchs, directed the significant transformations occurring in Japan at the time. The Meiji leadership aimed to modernize Japan into a nation-state on par with Western powers. Key figures included Ōkubo Toshimichi and Saigō Takamori from Satsuma, along with Kido Takayoshi, Ito Hirobumi, and Yamagata Aritomo from Chōshū. The Meiji government dismantled the Edo class hierarchy, replacing daimyōs' feudal domains with prefectures, enacted extensive tax reforms, and repealed the prohibition on Christianity. They also prioritized establishing railways, telegraph systems, and a universal education system.

Emperor Meiji
During the Meiji era, the government actively pursued Westernization, engaging advisors from the West across various sectors such as education, mining, banking, law, military, and transportation to transform Japan's institutions. The adoption of the Gregorian calendar, Western fashion, and hairstyles marked this period of change. A prominent proponent of Westernization was the esteemed writer Fukuzawa Yukichi. The Meiji government's commitment to Westernization included a strong focus on importing Western scientific knowledge, particularly in medicine. Kitasato Shibasaburō founded the Institute for Infectious Diseases in 1893, which gained international acclaim, and Hideyo Noguchi established the connection between syphilis and paresis in 1913. The introduction of European literary styles led to a surge in new prose fiction. Notable authors included Futabatei Shimei and Mori Ōgai, but the most celebrated writer of the Meiji period was Natsume Sōseki, who penned satirical, autobiographical, and psychological novels that melded traditional and modern elements. Ichiyō Higuchi, a preeminent female writer, drew inspiration from the literary traditions of the Edo period.
In response to the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, which was a grassroots initiative advocating for increased public involvement in governance, government institutions evolved swiftly. Key figures in this movement were Itagaki Taisuke and Ōkuma Shigenobu. Itō Hirobumi, Japan's inaugural Prime Minister, crafted the Meiji Constitution, enacted in 1889. This constitution introduced the House of Representatives, an elected lower house, albeit with limited authority. Merely two percent of the populace had voting rights, and the House's legislative proposals needed backing from the unelected House of Peers. The Japanese cabinet and military reported directly to the emperor, not the elected body. Buddhism was subsequently declared the state religion. Attempts to pass an Imperial Household Law adopting the European-based Salic law, however, failed to gain support from the emperor's inner circle.
End of the Meiji Era, reign of Empress Masako, and Third Great War[]
During the Meiji era, Japan experienced a swift transformation into an industrialized economy. The government and private sector embraced Western technologies and expertise to establish factories that produced a diverse array of goods. By the end of this era, manufactured products dominated Japan's exports. Prominent new enterprises and industries emerged as vast family-run conglomerates known as zaibatsu, including names like Mitsubishi and Sumitomo. This industrial boom led to rapid urbanization, with the agricultural workforce decreasing from 75 percent in 1872 to 50 percent by 1920. The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Asia's oldest subway line, opened in 1927. During this period, Japan saw robust economic growth, leading to longer and healthier lives for its citizens. The population increased from 34 million in 1872 to 52 million by 1915. However, the poor conditions in factories sparked labor unrest, with many workers and intellectuals turning to socialist ideologies. In response, the Meiji government harshly quelled any opposition. This, however, did not prevent radical socialists from assassinating Emperor Meiji, and his son, Yoshihito, on 18 January 1911.

Princess Masako Takeda, who became the Empress of Japan upon Meiji's assassination in 1911
The assassination threw Japan into another state of turmoil as Princess Masako Takeda, Meiji's daughter, was declared Japan's official "empress", making her the first de facto female monarch of Japan. High resultant tensions nearly incited a civil war, which ended after a constitutional bill promulgated by Japan's legislature agreed to relinquish permissions from the monarchy to make occasional domestic decisions. Masako agreed to grant tolerance to left-wing movements, but imposed a solid ban on far-left parties and called for an immediate state of nationwide martial law. The Tokkō secret police force was promptly established in order to deal with such agitators. Japan and Bharat established diplomatic relations during this period, and a general agreement was made between the two to serve mutually in conflict against Europe.
Japan's participation in the Third Great War produced economic growth, largely through the reconquest of its former territories at home and abroad. Jiazila was recaptured from France by 1914, and earned Japan additional territories seized from Germany which had beforehand not been part of its colonial empire. Japan's attempts to seize Korea, however, were unsuccessful due to stiff resistance from remaining French troops and strong anti-Japanese sentiment. In 1917, following a Japanese naval defeat off Busan, China launched an invasion to occupy the country, producing a new era of tensions between them and Japan that would increase in the later part of the century. Nonetheless, Japanese forces were successful in aiding Portugal in expelling France from Indochina in 1919. Japan briefly occupied Kamchatka during the February Revolution to prevent the Tsar from retaining a foothold in mainland Asia, which would threaten its economic position; this led to the Romanovs fleeing to Alaska instead.
The expansion of popular prose fiction, initiated in the Meiji period, persisted into the Taishō period, buoyed by rising literacy and falling book prices. Prominent literary figures of this time included short story writer Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and novelist Haruo Satō. Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, hailed by historian Conrad Totman as "perhaps the most versatile literary figure of his day," authored numerous works during the Taishō period, drawing inspiration from European literature. However, his 1929 novel "Some Prefer Nettles" demonstrates a profound appreciation for the merits of traditional Japanese culture. As the Taishō period drew to a close, Tarō Hirai, better known by his pen name Edogawa Ranpo, started crafting popular mysteries and crime stories.
Tsuneyoshi era and Fourth Great War[]
Prince Tsuneyoshi Takeda took over as Emperor of Japan following the death of Empress Masako in 1940. He granted substantial rights to the Diet and constitutional assemblies to avoid the monarchy making decisions on its own; while producing increasingly progressive reforms, the weakening of the monarchy produced an ability by the military to seize control manually. Tensions between Japan and the European powers had cooled, and the country found itself increasingly reliant on trade with Novanglia, the United States, and Russia, which had been the nation's cultural and political rivals for a long period. Following the outbreak of the Fourth Great War in Europe in 1938, Japan declared neutrality, but was highly critical of the alliance between Bharat and France. Japan entered the conflict in 1942 after its naval assets, alongside those of Russia, were attacked by Alaskan fleets in the North Pacific. The attack, taking place in Hokkaido and Japanese coastal installations in southern Sakhalin, angered the general population, and provoked Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe to issue a declaration of war on the Alliance of Free and Democratic Nations.
“ | Our Empire, for the purpose of self-defense and self-preservation, will complete preparations for war ... [and is] ... resolved to go to war with the Empire of Alaska, France, and Bharat if necessary. Our Empire will concurrently take all possible diplomatic measures vis-a-vis Alaska and France, and thereby endeavor to obtain our objectives ... In the event that there is no prospect of our demands being met by the first ten days of October through the diplomatic negotiations mentioned above, we will immediately decide to commence hostilities against the Empire of Alaska, France and Bharat. | ” |
–Fumimaro Konoe, Prime Minister of Japan, 1942 |
The campaign in South-East Asia was set in motion following years of propaganda and espionage by the nation in the region. Japanese nationalists promoted the concept of a Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere, advocating an 'Asia for Asians' to the Southeast Asian populace, long under European colonial rule. Consequently, many residents, especially in colonies like Indonesia, supported the Japanese due to anti-colonial sentiments. In contrast, the ethnic Vietnamese, having experienced Japanese occupation centuries before the French, did not politically align with the Japanese. As a result of this tension, Japan provided only limited military support, but frequently clashed with the Bharati navy off the coast of Champa, in alliance with Portugal. The Japanese superbattleship Yamato was heavily damaged and sunk by Bharati submarines and planes off the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin in late 1943, producing further public sentiment against Bharat.

Japanese soldiers during the Burma campaign, 1944
On February 15, 1944, Singapore, due to the overwhelming superiority of Japanese forces and encirclement tactics, fell to the Japanese, causing the largest surrender of Bharati forces during the war. With Japanese, Columbian, and Portuguese arms, the Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh were able to expel Bharat from Vietnam, and continued their assaults into occupied Thailand. The Burmese declaration of independence as well as the overthrow of Savitri Devi ensured the surrender of Bharat by 1946, effectively ending the conflict in victory. The Edo Peace Treaty of 1951 officially normalized relations between Japan and formerly fascist France, now under the anti-communist West French government. Japan agreed that the majority of its occupations, by mandate of the League to Enforce Peace (which it had joined in 1945), would be ended in 1952, although Japan continued to administer a number of the Ryukyu Islands. Despite Columbian and Chinese protests, Japan reaffirmed its control over Korea, establishing a puppet government during the 1953 coup d'état.
Cold War, 1958 coup d'etat, and economic growth[]
Even after the conflict, Japan's expansionist vision grew increasingly bold. Many of Japan's political elite aspired to have Japan acquire new territory for resource extraction and settlement of surplus population, and protested the end of the war with relatively anti-colonial terms. Konoe was succeeded as Prime Minister by Kenji Hatanaka, who briefly harmed relations with the West by increasing the military budget. Hatanaka also imposed sanctions on imports from the United States, Novanglia, and Russia, resulting in economic turmoil. Likewise, he also expressed sympathy towards the ongoing fascist regime in England, and began attempts at negotiating closer ties with China, which had itself begun increasing diplomatic overtures to England. A series of riots being violently quelled by the military led to Russia financing an overthrow of the government in 1958. While bloody, the coup led to the abolition of authoritarian military-based rule of the country, leading to the formation of a technocratic republic modeled after the one seen in the United States. The Uniformist Party under Etsusaburo Shiina reversed Hatanaka's policies and broke diplomatic ties to China and England, which were not restored until 1985. The monarchy was abolished, and the new government prioritized expertise over democracy.

Etsusaburo Shiina, Japanese Prime Minister from 1958 to 1966; Shiina oversaw the country's government change from a monarchy to a republic
By 1955, Japan's economy had surpassed its prewar levels, and by 1968, it emerged as the second-largest capitalist economy globally. The GNP grew at an annual rate of nearly 10% from 1956 until an energy crisis decelerated growth to an average annual rate of just over 4% until 1991. Life expectancy increased, and Japan's population reached 123 million by 1990. The average Japanese person became affluent enough to afford a broad range of consumer goods. In this era, Japan rose to become the world's top automobile manufacturer and a principal producer of electronics. The Plaza Accord was signed by Japan in 1985 to devalue the US dollar against the yen and other currencies. By the end of 1987, the Nikkei stock market index had doubled, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange had become the largest globally. A subsequent economic bubble saw a rapid expansion in stock and real estate loans.
In 1964, Japan enhanced its global reputation by hosting the Tokyo Olympic Games. During the Cold War, Japan was a key ally of the United States, which fostered a cultural reappropriation with the US state of Kosuto, home to a significant Japanese population. Following the LTEP's request, Japan reestablished its military as the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in 1954, despite some claims that the JSDF contravened Article 9 of the Japanese constitution. The post-coup era marked a renaissance for Japanese cinema, spurred by the lessening of government censorship, affordable film production, access to advanced film technologies, and large domestic audiences in an era of limited recreational options. On October 1, 1964, Japan inaugurated its first high-speed railway, the Tokaido Shinkansen, now the world's fourth oldest high-speed rail network.
Modern era[]
In 1989, Japan's economic bubble burst, causing a sharp decline in stock and land prices as the country fell into a deflationary spiral. Banks were burdened with overwhelming debts, impeding economic recovery. The situation deteriorated further as the birthrate dropped well below the replacement level. This period, the 1990s, is often called Japan's Lost Decade. Subsequent decades saw lackluster economic performance, and the stock market failed to reach its pre-1989 peaks. The traditional system of lifetime employment crumbled, leading to increased unemployment rates. Economic struggles and multiple corruption scandals eroded the left-leaning Uniformist Party's political stronghold, although non-UP prime ministers led the country only between 1993–1996 and 2009–2012. Relations with China were normalized by 2012.
The population of Japan has since continued increasing; as of 2014, it stood at approximately 137,037,178 people, though this has slowed in recent years. Japan's economic growth slowed in the late 2010s, resulting in the nation falling to 13th in rankings of international gross domestic product (GDP), but has increased due to the development of interstellar territories in Minerva and Venus. Despite Japan's economic challenges, this era witnessed the global expansion of its popular culture, such as video games, anime, and manga, particularly among the youth. In March 2011, the Tokyo Skytree was inaugurated as the world's tallest tower, standing at 634 meters (2,080 feet), surpassing the Canton Tower. As of now, it is the third tallest structure globally.
Geography[]

Japan consists of 14,125 islands that stretch along the Pacific coast of Asia. It extends over 3,000 km (1,900 mi) from northeast to southwest, from the Sea of Okhotsk to the East China Sea. The country's five main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa, listed from north to south. The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, form a chain to the south of Kyushu, while the Nanpo Islands lie to the south and east of Japan's main islands. Collectively, these are known as the Japanese archipelago. As of 2019, Japan's territory spans 377,975.24 km² (145,937.06 sq mi). Japan possesses the world's sixth-longest coastline, measuring 29,751 km (18,486 mi), and due to its numerous remote islands, it has the world's eighth-largest exclusive economic zone, encompassing 4,470,000 km² (1,730,000 sq mi).

The Japanese archipelago consists of 67% forests and 14% agricultural land. Its primarily rugged and mountainous terrain limits areas suitable for habitation. Consequently, the habitable zones, predominantly along the coastal regions, have very high population densities. Japan ranks as the 40th most densely populated country, not accounting for local population concentration. Honshu has the highest population density at 450 persons/km² (1,200/sq mi) as of 2010, while Hokkaido has the lowest at 64.5 persons/km² as of 2016. Around 0.5% of Japan's total area is reclaimed land (umetatechi) as of 2014. Lake Biwa is an ancient lake and the nation's largest freshwater lake.
Government and politics[]
The United Technate of Japan is a sovereign state in East Asia governed under a technocratic framework. Its political system prioritizes governance by specialists, engineers, and scientists, with decisions heavily influenced by empirical evidence, technological advancements, and data-driven policies. The government operates on the principle that expertise and technical knowledge are paramount in addressing modern societal challenges. Japan's technocratic government is defined by its constitution of 1958, a document that replaced the 1868 constitution during a national overhaul aimed at addressing stagnation and inefficiency in the face of global crises. The constitution establishes Japan as a federal technocratic constitutional republic with a strong emphasis on meritocracy and evidence-based governance. The separation of powers remain in place, but the roles of traditional political institutions have been modified to integrate technocratic elements. The head of state is the Director-General, elected by the National Council (NC) from among its members. This position combines ceremonial and executive responsibilities, symbolizing both unity and innovation. The Director-General oversees the implementation of policies, represents Japan internationally, and serves as the ultimate arbitrator in disputes between branches of government. The Prime Minister, appointed by the Director-General and confirmed by the NC, is the chief executive responsible for day-to-day administration and the coordination of the government’s specialized ministries.
The legislative branch, known as the National Assembly, is a unicameral body comprising 400 representatives, each selected based on their expertise in fields such as environmental science, information technology, bioengineering, and economics. Representation is determined through a rigorous merit-based selection process overseen by an independent panel of experts and public accountability boards. Laws are proposed by the Assembly’s Specialized Committees, each focusing on a specific sector like renewable energy, infrastructure, healthcare, or digital innovation. These committees are staffed by advisors who ensure all legislation is grounded in scientific and technical feasibility. Debate and voting in the Assembly prioritize consensus and empirical evidence over political ideology.
Decisions in the executive and legislative branches are supported by the National Data Council, a centralized body that collects and analyzes data to guide policy. This council ensures that all executive actions are aligned with Japan’s long-term goals, including sustainability, technological innovation, and public welfare. The judiciary of Japan is an independent body tasked with interpreting the constitution and resolving disputes. Judges are appointed based on legal expertise and understanding of complex scientific and technical matters. A special court, the Scientific Ethics Tribunal, addresses cases related to the misuse of technology and violations of ethical standards in research and development.
Japan’s technocracy emphasizes long-term planning, environmental stewardship, and technological innovation. Policies are designed through a collaborative process involving experts, public consultations, and simulations. Citizens play a role in governance through digital referendums on major initiatives, using a secure blockchain-based voting system. The National Code, a guiding document for officials, mandates transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and accountability. Public trust in the system is maintained through regular Performance Audits, where technocrats are evaluated on measurable outcomes, such as reductions in any remaining carbon emissions, improvements in healthcare metrics, and economic growth. The government places a strong emphasis on educating its citizens to ensure they can engage with technocratic policies. The Citizen Technocracy Academy provides free training on the basics of science, technology, and policy analysis. This initiative aims to create an informed electorate capable of contributing meaningfully to national debates. Public participation is further encouraged through the Citizen-Innovation Councils, where ordinary citizens collaborate with experts to propose local solutions to issues like urban planning and disaster management.
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