JAPAN

• Capital City: Tokyo
  
• Population: 127.6 million (UN, 2003)
  
• Major language: Japanese
  
• Major religions: Shintoism, Buddhism
  
• Life expectancy: 78 years (men), 85 years (women) (UN)
  
• Monetary unit: yen
  
• Main exports: Vehicles, computer parts, chemicals, scientific instruments and watches
  
• Average annual income: US $35,610 (World Bank, 2001)
  
• Internet domain: .jp
  
• International dialling code: +81
  

THE MEDIA

Newspaper readership is extremely high, with some 80% of Japanese reading a paper every day. National dailies have circulations in the millions, boosted by the publication of afternoon and evening editions.

• The Press
  
  • Asahi Shimbun - Japanese and English
    
  • Yomiuri Shimbun - Japanese and English
    
  • Mainichi Daily News - Japanese and English
    
  • Sankei Shimbun
    
  • Kyodo News
    
  • Nikkei Net - Japanese and English
    
    
    
• Television
  
  • NHK - public broadcaster, operates the General TV, Educational TV channels. NHK also runs satellite channels BS-1 and BS-2 and high-definition TV (HDTV) network Digital Hi-Vision. NHK World is the organisation's TV service for Japanese nationals living overseas.
    
  • TV Asahi - national commercial network
    
  • Fuji TV - national commercial network
    
  • Nippon TV (NTV) - national commercial network
    
  • Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) - national commercial network
    
    
    
    
• Radio
  
  • NHK - public broadcaster, operates news/speech-based Radio 1, cultural/educational network Radio 2, classical music-based network FM Radio. Radio Japan is NHK's external service, with programmes in 22 languages including English.
    
  • Inter FM - Tokyo commercial music station
    
  • J-Wave - Tokyo commercial music station
    
  • Tokyo FM - Tokyo-based commercial network
    
  • TBS Radio - network operated by Tokyo Broadcasting System
    

     

• News agency
  
  • Kyodo News Agency