The other day I came across an interesting link on the Internet. This is a rather curious site "Statistics of Japan by prefectures". The link itself was to a specific page, which provides statistics on how many foreign citizens from different countries currently live in Japan and the ranking of the number of citizens of a particular country by prefecture. I was interested in the data on the citizens of Russia. I think readers of my blog will also be interested to know this data, so I share information with you.

First, a little explanation. This data is provided by the Ministry of Justice of Japan and, as far as I understand, this includes those foreigners (in our case, Russian citizens) who have a visa for a stay in Japan for more than 6 months. Since it is these categories of visas that are issued by the Ministry of Justice (they have an immigration service in their department). That is, tourists who come to Japan for a period of less than 3 months, that is, on short-term visas, I think that the statistics given on the site are not included.

One more note: the site is not an official site of the Japan Bureau of Statistics, which belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan. This government agency like our Rosstat has its own website.

The site that I decided to write about today is not a site of a government institution, it was created by a Japanese enthusiast, whose pseudonym, as I understand it, is odomon. He currently resides in Nagano Prefecture.

As he writes, from elementary school, his favorite book was 「日本のすがた」 (which can be translated as the image or image of Japan), and he also dreamed of working in the statistical bureau. And although life decreed differently and he worked in a different field in Tokyo and abroad, later, when he returned to Nagano, he managed to realize his dream in the form of this site, on which he collects various statistical data about Japan.

I hope the information was interesting. Perhaps this and other sites will be useful to someone for writing reports about Japan, and for someone to choose a city to study Japanese.

By the way, I remind you that we are already working and accepting applications for short-term courses from 1 to 3 months, which begin in April 2016. The spring course is good because it gives you the opportunity not only to improve your knowledge of the Japanese language, but also to see the spring cherry blossoms! We accept documents for these courses until the end of February.

If you plan to replenish the population of Japan and enter the ratings similar to the one described in this note, that is, you plan to enroll in a long-term Japanese language study program (in this case, you receive a college student visa for a period of more than 6 months), then we are now accepting documents for the long-term program "1 year and 9 months", which begins in July 2016. You can study as a full 1 year and 9 months, or only 1 year. We accept documents for these courses until mid-March.

The next long-term program "1.5 years" will start in October 2016. We will start accepting documents from the end of February to the beginning of May.

For any questions write to me at [email protected] If you find it difficult to choose a language school, I will be happy to help you decide on a school and a suitable Japanese course for you.

The demographic situation in Japan has come under scrutiny due to the population decline that has continued since 2010, along with a sharp increase in the age group over 65 years old.

According to UN estimates, the population of Japan at the beginning of March 2016 is 126 million 394 thousand people. Japanese government projections say that if current trends continue, by 2050 the country's population will drop to 90 million.

This is only an extrapolation, which will not necessarily become a reality, but it is the beginning of a new trend. A similar situation awaits other Asian and developed European countries.
In 1910, Japan had a population of 51 million.

History reference

In the first half of the 20th century, the number of Japanese grew by an average of 5-7% every 5 years, excluding the period of the 2nd World War. The population census of 1950 recorded an increase of 15% compared to 1945, but there is no complete confidence in these figures - in addition to a restorative increase in the birth rate, in 1950 military personnel who returned from the fronts and from captivity were taken into account.

Since 1950, the birth rate began to fall from 28 births per 1,000 people in 1950 to an average figure of 18-19 births per 1,000 in 1955-1975.

The sharp drop in fertility in 1966 was due to the peculiarities of the Japanese zodiac calendar: "Inoe Zuma", the year of bad omens.

After 1980, the fall in the birth rate intensified with a simultaneous decrease in mortality. This led to significant changes in the demographic structure of society, the number of elderly people aged 65 years and above began to increase, while the number of able-bodied population decreased.

Since 2000, the population has increased slightly: an increase of 0.7% over the five-year period between 2005 and 2010.

The peak was recorded by the 2010 census - 128 million people, after which the population began to fall.

On the video population of Japan for 2016:

Largest islands

97% of the population lives on the four largest islands of the Japanese archipelago:

• honshu,
• hokkaido,
• Shikoku

Honshu Island- the largest and most populated, more than 97 million people, mainly concentrated in urban agglomerations on the west coast. Most sparsely populated - second largest northern island Hokkaido c 5.5 million population.
Kyushu Island with 12 million people, it is the third largest and southernmost of the large islands.
The smallest of the four main islands Shikoku with 3.98 million inhabitants.
Japan is a highly urbanized country. The 2010 census showed that 90.7% of the population lived in cities. The share of the rural population does not exceed 5%.

At the same time, 68.5% of the territory is covered by forests, which is typical for sparsely populated northern countries.

Japan's capital Tokyo, together with Yokohama and Kawasaki, forms the world's largest urban agglomeration, with a population of 35 million people.

Other cities with more than a million inhabitants: Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Saitama, Hiroshima.

On video country density:

Employment

The economically active population is concentrated in cities. 33% of employed Japanese are employed in industry. The country is poor in minerals, so the mining industry is practically not developed.

The developed automotive, electronic and engineering high-tech industries require highly qualified workers, so there is a shortage of high-class specialists from time to time. 50% work in the service sector, in transport, in construction.

No more than 5% of the able-bodied population is employed in agriculture. In connection with the aging of the population, the employment of older people over 60 years of age is of particular importance. Unemployment is at a low level - 4.4% in 2015.

However, the “lifetime hire” system that the country was so proud of before 2000 is gradually giving way to freelance hiring. The number of freelancers increased from 5% to 24%.

Japan is a rich country.

Net per capita income (income after taxes) was $26,111 at the end of 2014. For comparison, in South Korea this figure was equal to 19,510 dollars.

From this article you can find out which and probably now 2016. But looking back at the economic growth rates of developed countries, we can conclude that these countries will be at a low level for many years to come.

The rest of the countries of the Asian region cannot even come close to such indicators. Singapore stands apart, but there is no data on net per capita income.

* The value is calculated by linear interpolation, taking into account the two closest values ​​\u200b\u200bto each other (Date-> population) (unofficial).
** Migration growth is included in the calculation of birth rate growth: Birth rate = Population + Mortality.
*** We do not have population figures prior to 1950. The figures shown are based on an approximate calculation using the function: population in 1900 = 70% of population in 1950.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015). World Demographic Prospects: A 2015 Revision. These estimates and forecasts were made according to the medium-term birth rate option. Used with permission from the United Nations. Downloaded: 2015-11-15 (un.org)
City density map created from population.city using data provided to us by 1km.net. Each circle represents a city with a population of over 5000. Link
The population density map was created according to the instructions of daysleeperrr on reddig. Link1 . Data source: Gridded Population of the World (GPW), 3rd online edition in Socioeconomic Data and Applications (SEDAC) at Columbia University.

Japan Population Size and Density

The population of Japan according to the UN for $2016 is $127.1 million. The country is dominated by the female population, which accounts for $51.3\%$, the share of the male population is $48.7\%$. The country's population has remained practically unchanged for the past $10$ years, which is explained by a decline in the birth rate and low mortality. Relatively recently, the country was characterized by a high birth rate and a high natural increase. In the $50s, the birth rate dropped sharply, and today the country has moved to the first type of population reproduction with a high life expectancy. The economically active population accounts for $50\%$ of the total population, $13\%$ of the population is employed in industry, $20\%$ in agriculture and $40\%$ of the Japanese work in the non-manufacturing sector. The skill level of the country's labor resources is very high.

Japan is $7$ in terms of population, behind China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, the USA, and Russia. A slight increase in the number is due to immigrants, but foreigners are not welcome in the country due to violation of existing laws and regulations, as well as ignorance of Japanese culture. Other nationalities are represented by fractions of a percentage, but even among them, Koreans and Chinese are the largest group. Americans and representatives of European countries, who number up to $40 thousand people in Japan, are not considered permanent residents. The natives of the Japanese islands include the Ainu, who settled in the $11th century on the island of Hokkaido.

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Today there are about $20 thousand of them. The Ainu, forced out by the Japanese in the $19th century, lost their best lands, but the older generation still retains its language and culture. Despite the fact that other nationalities live in Japan, the country is one-national and $99\%$ of the population are Japanese.

The population is unevenly distributed throughout the country, although it belongs to densely populated countries. The average density is more than $300$ people. per sq. km. The coastal regions of the country have a high density, more than $500 per person. per sq km, and in the north of Hokkaido the density is only $70$ people. per sq. km. Most of the Japanese - $80\%$ - live in cities, so the level of urbanization is very high. There are $11$ million-plus cities in the country. Only in one metropolitan area Keihin$30 million people live. Agglomerations located on the Pacific coast merge into one megalopolis Tokaido. The length of this megalopolis is $600$ km with a population of $65$ million. A difficult demographic situation is developing in the country. The average age of the Japanese is $44.6. Children and teenagers make up only $13\%$, pensioners $28\%$, people of working age - $64\%$.

Remark 1

Specialists make a forecast for $2050$ and come to the conclusion that the population will decrease to $97 million. Extramarital relations are not welcome in the country, and young people do not seek marriage. It can be assumed that the population of Japan will change little in the next decade.

National features of the Japanese

Japan is often referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun". But, at the same time, it is also the birthplace of samurai, geishas, ​​cherry blossoms and martial arts. The Japanese psychology differs from the psychology of other nations and, against the background of other nations, they have a high life expectancy, a low number of violent crimes, preserved centuries-old traditions with the highest technological and economic development. It is the only state in the world with a formal title Empire. It is possible that all the achievements of modern Japan are connected with the national characteristics of the Japanese.

The most striking national features of the Japanese include:

big industriousness which often turns into workaholism. The Japanese are very devoted to their work and the company in which they work. The firm is their home, so it's normal to stay at work until late at night. Putting their whole soul into the performance of any business, the Japanese "burn out" at work emotionally and physically.

Contemplation of beauty. Admiring the beauty of nature or man-made beauty, while receiving aesthetic pleasure, is an integral part of the psychology of the Japanese. Cherry blossoms, the beauty of the setting sun, Fujiyama volcano cause them moral pleasure and satisfaction. Love for the beautiful caused such areas of Japanese art as ikebana, bonsai, and the tea ceremony.

Loyalty to tradition. The conservative Japanese are in no hurry to adopt the customs and values ​​of other peoples. The continuity of generations is of great importance for them, and hence the great respect for the cultural heritage of their country.

Curiosity and curiosity The Japanese people helped to achieve superiority in the field of technology development. Everything new makes them want to thoroughly study it, transform it for themselves. They know how to take something useful from other cultures without losing their ethnic identity.

The Japanese mentality is characterized collectivism. Throughout their lives, they are attached to different social groups. This can be their own family, the team of the company where they work, the party, etc. Every Japanese clearly knows his place in the hierarchy and is always ready to obey his superiors, they are characterized by humility and humility, so the authority of a father, boss, teacher, policeman is simply undeniable. Strict Japanese etiquette and politeness are based on collectivism, and hence the desire to make life in a team as comfortable as possible.

In Japanese, there are 3 "styles of politeness":

1. Conversational style. It is commonly used when speaking to younger members of the family;
2. Neutral polite style characteristic in conversation with strangers and equals in position;
3. Very polite style- keigo. The style is used with the elderly and seniors in society by position.

The national characteristics of the Japanese were formed under the influence of the traditional religions of the country - Shinto and Buddhism. Religious teachings, their values ​​and prescriptions are part of the worldview of the Japanese people. The virtues of Buddhism are restraint, patience, self-control, and the Japanese strive to develop these character traits in themselves.

In the rules of life, the Japanese also adhere to Buddhist philosophy:

1. The desire to comply with the laws of the country and the rules prescribed in society;
2. Do not rebel, but reconcile with the situation and unpleasant circumstances;
3. Restriction in entertainment and the desire to work more for the good of the nation;
4. In personal troubles, you should only blame yourself.

Parenting

Remark 2

The Japanese system of raising children is very interesting and is sometimes referred to as the famous Japanese courtesy, which manifests itself right from infancy. Japanese children seem to never cry, foreigners are amazed. The reason lies elsewhere. Babies start crying when they want to eat or drink, sleep, experience any inconvenience or are left unattended. Avoiding all of these is part of Japanese upbringing in infancy. During the first two years, the baby is attached to the mother and is part of her, he is with her all day, the child is next to the mother at night, and he receives the breast as soon as he wishes. The kid is not let go even when he starts to walk.

The impulses of the child are not limited and they do not try to accustom him to some kind of routine. From infancy, the child hears warnings from relatives “dangerous”, “dirty”, “bad”. Thus, these warnings as unambiguous enter into his consciousness. The child is not spoiled at all, as it may seem at first glance, he is simply not given a reason to cry. Boys usually do not forbid anything and do not react to the bad behavior of children. Threat of exclusion- one of the methods of Japanese education. Everyone will turn away from you or laugh at you if your behavior is inappropriate - this is how parents teach their children. Such teaching causes fear of being excommunicated from relatives, of being ridiculed or humiliated, and sinks into the soul of the baby from a very early age.

With the first restrictions, children meet at school age. being brought up prudence, the child is taught to beware of those positions in which one can "lose face" both one's own and other people's. A period begins when the child learns to suppress impulses in himself. Accessible children's pampering and free expression of their impulses is no longer appropriate. The child sees in them a kind of evil. Be that as it may, the complete freedom of early childhood leaves an unforgettable mark on the character of a small person. A feeling of shame unknown in childhood and the memory of carefree days give rise to a new look at life in which there is restrictions and concessions. In matters of duty, the Japanese are very demanding of themselves and others and indulgent towards human weaknesses. Virtue for the Japanese is willpower, the ability, for the sake of higher duty, to turn away from pleasures that are not considered evil.

The Japanese are amazing people with an unusual worldview and a rich inner world. The population was not lucky with the geographical position of the country and sometimes unbearable natural conditions, but the difficulties made them only stronger, more resourceful. The Japanese people do not get tired of surprising the world with their colorfulness and a slight degree of madness. For a European, the Japanese will forever remain a mystery and mystery. You won't get tired of being surprised by their oddities. Who are they, these inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun? Let's try to figure it out together.

The national composition of the country

The population of Japan is for the most part a monocultural and homogeneous group of purebred Japanese. Only 1% of the state's inhabitants (1.56 million) are representatives of the Korean diaspora and workers from Asia. As for Americans and Europeans, they live in Japan, but on a non-permanent basis.

A small part of the Ryukyus and Ainu natives live on the islands. There is also a separate burakumin community, which differs from the Japanese society in cultural and everyday features.

Residents communicate mainly in Japanese, and English is additionally studied in schools. It is interesting that the locals consider their native speech to be very difficult, therefore they respect a foreigner who knows at least.

Japan Population Size and Density

The state in terms of population ranks 7th after China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, the United States and Russia. According to UN estimates, at the beginning of this year, the population of Japan was more than 126.5 million people. Of these, 48.7% are males, 51.3% are females. More than 31 thousand are migrants. Over the past year, 1,269,374 people died, 1,050,211 were born. Statistics showed that the annual increase decreased by 0.12%. Over the past ten years, the population has remained virtually unchanged. The reason for this phenomenon is due to the decline in the birth rate and low mortality of residents.

But, thanks to immigrants, the number of people has increased slightly, although foreigners are poorly welcomed by the locals due to ignorance of Japanese culture and violation of existing laws and regulations.

Japan is a fairly densely populated country. The average population density is 334 persons/km2. But in the north of Hokkaido, less than 70 people / km2 live, and in coastal areas - more than 500 people / km2.

The level of urbanization is impressive: 80% of the inhabitants live in cities. There are 655 large cities in Japan, 11 of them with a population of more than a million.

Most of the people are employed in the service sector, only 13% work in industry and 20% in the agricultural sector. Labor resources are characterized by a fairly high level of qualification. The Japanese do not know how to relax at all, they work both on weekends and on holidays, they do everything a lot and with high quality. Interesting: would such an approach to work be effective for the economies of European countries? For now, it's a secret.

Difficult demographic situation

In the recent past, the natural increase in population was very high, but a few years later, as a result of political reforms aimed at reducing the birth rate, the population of Japan dropped sharply. Due to improved living conditions and a noticeable leap in the development of medicine, the death rate has fallen significantly. There are only three deaths per 1000 newborns. This is a good indicator.

The average age of residents is 44.6 years. The average life expectancy for men is 77 years, for women - 85 years. Just incredible numbers! But in the country there are only 13% of children and adolescents, 64% of people from 15 to 65 years old and 28% of old people. That is, the pension burden ratio is as much as 35.7%. The question arises: why are young families unable to fully reproduce themselves? At this rate, Japan's population is projected to decline to 97 million by 2050. It is unlikely that the Japanese authorities will allow such a situation. But with the current outlook on life, politicians are forced to work hard to stimulate population growth.

Taking a look at Japanese demographic changes, I would like to conclude that a modern Japanese woman often has no time to give birth. She needs more years for, as a result of which she marries late. In addition, financial obstacles lie in wait, such as the high cost of raising children. Many young girls and boys have recently made the decision not to get married at all. And such a decision is followed by the rejection of childbearing, since the Japanese do not welcome extramarital relationships.

Indeed, the able-bodied population preferred a career to marriage. In Japanese society, it is quite difficult to combine work and raising children. An interesting fact is that both sexes doubt family and marital values. 61% of unmarried men and 49.5% of unmarried women aged 18 to 35 did not have a sexual partner. Most didn't even want to. Perhaps, with this view, the population of Japan will not increase soon.

Local authorities are concerned about the state of demography in the country, because after a while, if everything develops at the current pace, the labor force will be greatly reduced.

Japanese Religious Life

In Japan, there are different religious directions that have developed over many centuries. The main currents are Shintoism, Indian Buddhism and Christianity. From the beginning of the 19th century, new Japanese sects appeared on the basis of folk beliefs and rituals.

More than 200 thousand religious institutions and organizations operate on the territory of the country. The number of believers is statistically twice as large as the population of Japan. There is an explanation for that. Many residents of the Land of the Rising Sun are immediately adherents, the existence of which excludes the slightest aggression towards a person. All beliefs are characterized by indulgence, love for one's neighbor, respect for family and ancestors, respect for nature, close interaction between man and God, purification, unity of religious rites with everyday life.

Japanese longevity secrets

The high life expectancy of the population of Japan is due to a proper diet and a developed healthcare system.

The Japanese menu includes cereals, soy and seafood. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, the main ingredient, of course, is rice. And its combination with fish wrapped in seaweed is a world-famous delicacy called sushi.

Fruits in the Land of the Rising Sun are very expensive: for two dollars you can buy just one apple or apricot. But, nevertheless, they are eaten in larger quantities and exclusively fresh.

Also, the inhabitants of Japan love greens, vegetables, especially eggplant, spinach, bamboo sprouts, broccoli. Eat food only in season.

It may seem that the variety of food in Japan is very poor, but in a week a Japanese family eats about 50 different dishes, while as a European - only 30.

The Japanese, in addition to all of the above, move a lot, do physical exercises. Naturally, the result was not long in coming. Only three out of a hundred people in Japan are overweight. For comparison: in America, as many as 34% of the population suffer from this disease.

That's the whole secret of the longevity of the Japanese. By following these principles, we can boast of good health.

Unusual traditions of the Japanese

The population of Japan observes a huge amount. The life of a Japanese is literally permeated with a network of customs and ceremonies, this is especially evident in communication between people.

The Japanese greet not with a handshake, but with a slight bow, the depth and duration of which should correspond to the social status of the oncoming one. When talking, the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun begin their speech with an apology, as if for wasting the interlocutor's time. And they always smile.

Before going outside, the Japanese always take a bath; in general, they are obsessed with personal hygiene. They even go to the toilet in special slippers, so as not to spread dirt around the house.

Even in Japan there is a cult of food. They can talk about food for hours, while tasty smacking their lips. It is considered ignorance not to say “Very tasty” to the hostess. And the best souvenir, perhaps, will be a new yummy.

Interestingly, a tip for a Japanese is perceived as an obscene gesture. After all, paying the appointed price for the service, the visitor remains on an equal footing with the workers of the institution. Otherwise, he will show his superiority, which amounts to an insult.

It is unacceptable to enter the house shod. There is a special place for street shoes, on which stepping with your toe is equivalent to a disaster - because it is dirty there.

In general, Japan is a country of naive, sympathetic and very smart people. Many of their actions on the part of the Europeans are not amenable to common sense, but, thanks to such actions, the people of Japan will always retain great interest in themselves.

The Japanese are quite sociable, but you also need to be able to competently maintain a conversation. To do this, take our main course "" and speak Japanese!

What interesting or funny facts about the Japanese do you know? Perhaps you noticed something in communication with the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun? Please share.