Central & SE Asia / Australasia
Country profile: Japan
Location: | Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula. |
Climate: | varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north |
Terrain: | mostly rugged and mountainous |
Size: | 377835 sq. km total (Land area: 374744 sq. km Water area: 3091 sq.km) |
Population: | 127,288,419 (July 2008 est.) |
Languages: | Japanese |
Government: | constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government |
Capital city: | Tokyo |
Legal system: | modeled after German civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
Currency: | yen (JPY) |
Licensing: |
Country profile
Japan boasts one of the largest economies in the world. The country continues to experience a moderate economic recovery that began in 2003, following a decade of economic stagnation. Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.5 percent in 2005 and 2.3 percent in 2004. The modest upturn over the last few years reflects higher business confidence in Japan, a surge in export demand led by exports to China, and robust consumer spending. Unemployment in Japan fell to 4.4 percent in 2005, down from an early 2003 peak of 5.5 percent. Japan has virtually no domestic oil or natural gas reserves, and in 2005 was the second largest net importer of crude oil in the world.
Despite the country’s dearth of hydrocarbon resources, Japanese companies have actively pursued upstream oil and natural gas projects overseas. Japan remains one of the major exporters of energy-sector capital equipment, and Japanese companies provide engineering, construction, and project management services for energy projects.
Japan’s National Diet (parliament) elected Shinzo Abe as the country’s new prime minister on September 26, 2006, succeeding Junichiro Koizumi, who held the position for more than five years. Both Abe and Koizumi come from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been in power since 1955. Before coming into office, Abe held the post of Chief Cabinet Secretary under Koizumi. Many political analysts expect Abe to adopt similar economic and foreign policies to his predecessor, although this remains to be seen.
Energy production and consumption
Oil | Gas | |
Production: | 125,000 bbl/day (2006) | 4 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
Consumption: | 5 million bbl/day (2006) | 83 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
Exports: | 94,830 bbl/day (2006) | billion cu m (2005 est.) |
Imports: | 5 million bbl/day (2006) | 77 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
Reserves: | 58 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | 38 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
Major fields: |
Japan - recent news
08 Jan 24 |
Japan: JERA launches commercial operations at Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm JERA and Green Power Investment Corporation have started operations at the Ishikari Bay New Port Offshore Wind Farm - the largest commercial wind farm in Japan and the first in Japan to adopt large 8,000 kW wind turbines - which they own through Green Power Ishikari GK, a special-purpose corporation. |
12 Dec 23 |
Japan: Forum Energy Technologies contracts to supply Comanche ROV to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Forum Energy Technologies (FET), a global leader in subsea robotics, has signed a contract to supply a state-of-the-art Comanche remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). |
02 Dec 23 |
Japan: Vestas wins 46 MW order in Japan Vestas has secured a 46 MW repowering order with Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation for Eurus Kamaishi Wind Farm in Iwate prefecture, Japan. |
30 Jul 23 |
Japan: DNV advises Actis on its acquisition of Hergo Japan Energy DNV, the global independent energy expert and assurance provider, has advised Actis, a leading global sustainable infrastructure investor, on the inaugural acquisition of their new Japan-focused renewables infrastructure fund. |
22 Jun 23 |
Japan: MOECO and Chevron to explore advanced closed loop geothermal pilot in Hokkaido Japan Chevron New Energies Japan, a subsidiary of Chevron, and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co (MOECO) have announced execution of definitive agreements to proceed with the pilot testing of advanced geothermal technology. Pursuant to these agreements, Chevron and MOECO will conduct pilot tests of a developing novel geothermal technology, specifically advanced closed loop (ACL) technology. |
Japan - more news
Other countries in this region
- Australia,
- Bangladesh,
- Brunei,
- Cambodia,
- China,
- Fiji,
- Hong Kong,
- India,
- Indonesia,
- Laos,
- Malaysia,
- Maldives,
- Mongolia,
- Myanmar,
- Nepal,
- New Zealand,
- North Korea,
- Pakistan,
- Palau,
- Papua New Guinea,
- Philippines,
- Singapore,
- South Korea,
- Sri Lanka,
- Taiwan,
- Thailand,
- Timor Leste,
- Vietnam