An Analysis on the Country of Japan

Introduction: Japan, a relatively small nation in size, located in Eastern Asia between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan boasts a population of about 127,368,088 people; 10th most populated nation. It is quite hard to imagine how a country about the size of the state of California could have been positioned and was predicted to become the largest, most powerful economy in the world. Japan’s economy, in the years following World War II can be described as nothing short of a miracle. For three decades, the real GDP of the country grew at an unperceived rate: a 10% average in the 1960’s, a 5% average in the 1970’s, and a 4% average in the 1980’s (CIA World fact book, …show more content…

Japan’s Foreign Relations
As an economically developed country, Japan is member of the G8 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and has developed relations with ASEAN as a member of "ASEAN plus three". Japan, a member of the United Nations, is also a major donor of international aid and development efforts - donating 0.19% of its Gross National Income in 2004 (Politics of Japan, 2007).
In the period after WWII, heavy reliance on foreign military and financial aid from the United States introduced the US as the cornerstone of Japan’s foreign relations. Though through the 70’s and 80’s there was some economic tension with the 2 countries due to trade disputes and technological transfers that were deemed unfair; however, in the 90’s, the relationship was once again re-established. This was because the US no longer saw Japan as their primary economic threat; that place had been taken by China.
Japan does not have any major issues with hostility with other nations; however, Japan's relations with Russia are hampered by the two sides' inability to resolve their territorial dispute over the islands that make up the Northern Territories (Southern Kuriles) seized by the U.S.S.R. at the end of World War II. The stalemate over territorial issues has prevented the development