Tôkyô, Japan

Often called the “Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is an island country located on the coast of East Asia. Japan consists of an archipelago of approximately 6,852 volcanic islands and is the 2nd most populated country in the world. Through archeological findings, we know Japan was inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. It is believed that Japan became a country on February 11, 660 BC. During the 4th-9th centuries, imperialistic dynasties controlled by the Emperor ruled over Japan. Gradually military clans and samurai warriors took over. For many years the islands of Japan were isolated from the western world. By 12th century until 1868, Japan was ruled by shoguns, ruling in the name of the Emperor, however 1868 the imperial court once again regained political control and established the Empire of Japan. On May 3, 1947, Japan set in place its current constitution, and has maintained a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy with both an elected Emperor and a legislature.