Japan, or the Land of the Rising Sun,
is home to over 126 million people, nearly 10 million of whom live in Tokyo alone. How did this tiny island nation become such a powerhouse in the 21st century, and where will it go from here? This book examines history and contemporary life through thematic entries organized into chapters covering topics such as Geography; History; Government and Politics; Economy; Religion and Thought; Social Classes and Ethnicity; Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality; Education; Language; Etiquette; Literature and Drama; Art and Architecture; Music and Dance; Food; Leisure and Sports; and Media and Popular Culture. Each chapter contains an overview of the topic and alphabetized entries on examples of each theme. A chronology covers from prehistoric times to the present, and special appendices offer profiles of a typical day in the life of representative members of Japanese society, a glossary, key facts and figures about Japan, and a holiday chart. This volume is ideal for high school and lower-level undergraduate students researching Japan, as well as general readers interested in learning more about the country.