Statistical Handbook of Japan 2007

Ebook - Handbook

Statistical Handbook of Japan 2007 (SHJ) is designed to provide a clear and coherent overview of present-day Japan through statistics. It provides statistical tables, charts, maps, and photographs to portray conditions in modern-day Japan from a variety of perspectives, including demographics, economic and social trends, and culture.

Most of the comments and statistical data for this purpose have been drawn from principal statistical publications available from government and other leading sources. SHJ is published annually in August or September.

Chapters:

Chapter 1 Land and Climate
Chapter 2 Population
Chapter 3 Economy
Chapter 4 Finance
Chapter 5 Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Chapter 6 Manufacturing and Construction
Chapter 7 Energy
Chapter 8 Science and Technology/Information and Communication
Chapter 9 Transport
Chapter 10 Commerce
Chapter 11 Trade, International Balance of Payments, and International Cooperation
Chapter 12 Labor
Chapter 13 Household Finances and Prices
Chapter 14 Environment and Life
Chapter 15 Social Security, Health Care, and Public Hygiene
Chapter 16 Education and Culture
Chapter 17 Government System

Cover photo: Fuji in Red

Mount Fuji in red, with inverted reflection on the surface of the Lake Yamanaka-ko. When Mount Fuji (the highest peak in Japan, 3,776 meters above sea level) is turned red by the rising sun, it is called "Red Fuji." This sight can be seen only when certain conditions such the state of the air and the angle of the sun at sunrise are satisfied, usually in the summer. "Red Fuji" has been regarded as good-luck symbol. This photograph was taken around 4:50 a.m. on August 24, 2003.

Read Statistical Handbook of Japan 2007 Online

Chapter 1 Land and Climat

Land

Japan is an island nation situated off the eastern seaboard of the Eurasian continent in the northern hemisphere. The islands form a crescent-shaped archipelago stretching from northeast to southwest parallel to the continental coastline with the Sea of Japan in between.

The country is located between approximately 20 degrees to 45 degrees north latitude and stretches over 3,200 kilometers. It consists of the main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa, and more than 6,800 smaller islands of varying sizes. Its surface area totals approximately 380,000 square kilometers, a figure equivalent to 0.3 percent of the global land mass.

Since the Japanese archipelago is located in a zone of relatively young tectonic plate movement, it is particularly prone to various physiographical phenomena. The land is full of undulations, with mountainous regions including hilly terrain accounting for about three-quarters of its total area. The mountains are generally steep and are intricately carved out by ravines. Hilly terrain extends between the mountainous regions and the plains. ...

Mission and Guiding Principles of the Statistics Bureau and the Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards)

Foreword

With regard to the current situation surrounding national statistics, socio-economic conditions both inside and outside Japan have been changing. Due to this, on the one hand, there is a greater need for statistics which clarify the current status of economic activities and people's lives.

On the other hand, changes such as diversification of life style and values, which relate deeply to statistical censuses and surveys, are also gathering pace. Furthermore, based on a greater need for transparency and accountability in public administration these days, policy evaluation is attracting much attention. In this context, statistics are expected to play a more important role in terms of ensuring the objectivity of policy evaluation.

Under these circumstances, we are proud of our role, and have always endeavored to fulfill our duties. The Mission and Guiding Principles set out the basic values shared across the Statistics Bureau and the Direction-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC).

Our Mission: What are we committed to ?

We play a central role in the national statistical system in the coordination of statistical activities based on the Statistics Law and other legislation, as well as through the production, compilation and dissemination of fundamental national statistics.

We organize relevant and reliable statistics which meet the needs arising from socio-economic changes in a systematic way, and provide them in a timely and proper manner. We aim to support the planning, formulation and evaluation of governmental policies, and assist in rational decision-making by individuals and businesses, as well as in the pursuit of truth. Moreover, we strive to contribute to an improvement in people's lives and the development of society and the economy.

Our Guiding Principles: To help us achieve our mission

We will continue to make every effort to improve statistics, bearing in mind the following guiding principles while taking into account the views of those using statistics and providing data.

* Providing objective and reliable statistics that are useful for society

    * Disseminating statistics to various users in a user-friendly manner
    * Taking all possible measures to protect respondents confidentiality
    * Always paying due attention to the burden on respondents

    * Equipping ourselves with a high level of expertise to contribute to the
    * development of statistics within Japan and abroad
    * Systematic improvement of Statistics through the coordination of statistical activities across the Government

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