ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Japan. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Japan. Japanese can change their government through elections and enjoy most basic rights. The lower house of parliament has 300 single-member, simple-plurality districts and 180 party-list, proportional-representation seats. The upper house has 152 single-seat districts and 100 seats chosen by proportional representation. Japanese trade unions are independent and active. The International Labour Organization has criticized a ban on joining unions or striking by members of the armed forces, police, and fire-fighters. Foreign and domestic human rights groups have criticized Japan's penal system for subjecting prisoners to severe regimentation and dehumanizing punishments.
