The Human Truth Foundation

Japan

http://www.humantruth.info/japan.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#andorra #environmentalism #internationalism #japan #tanzania

Japan
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index16th best
CapitalTokyo
Land Area 364 500km21
LocationAsia
Population127.2m2
Life Expectancy84.78yrs (2017)3
GNI$42 274 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesJP, JPN, 3925
Internet Domain.jp6
CurrencyYen (JPY)7
Telephone+818

1. Overview

#china #japan #russia #taiwan #USA

In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains a major economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killing thousands and damaging several nuclear power plants. The catastrophe hobbled the country's economy and its energy infrastructure, and tested its ability to deal with humanitarian disasters.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverJapan is a world apart - a cultural Galápagos where a unique civilisation blossomed, and thrives today in delicious contrasts of traditional and modern. Japan hits the travel sweet spot. It´s unique enough to give you regular doses of `Wow!´ without any downside. Indeed, travelling in Japan is remarkably comfortable, even with the language barrier thrown in - but it´s never familiar. Staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) is marvellously different from staying in a chain hotel. Soaking naked in an onsen (hot spring) with a bunch of strangers might be a little odd at first, but it is beyond relaxing. Sitting in a robe on tatami mats eating raw fish and mountain vegetables may not be how you dine back home, but it is unforgettably delicious.

Perhaps more than any country on earth, Japan makes you think. It was never extensively missionised or colonised. It practises an ancient animist/pantheist religion while pushing the boundaries of modern technology. It is a country where tens of millions of people can cram into crowded cities without ever losing their temper. And while you explore Japan, you will regularly find yourself awed by how the Japanese do things.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Japan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
16Liechtenstein0.935
17Luxembourg0.930
18UK0.929
19=Japan0.925
19=S. Korea0.925
21USA0.921
22Israel0.919
23=Malta0.918
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
28S. Korea$44 501
29New Zealand$44 057
30Italy$42 840
31Japan$42 274
32Israel$41 524
33Slovenia$39 746
34Bahrain$39 497
35Malta$38 884
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
13UK39.0
14Belgium40.1
15Ireland40.2
16Japan40.5
17France43.2
18Luxembourg43.3
19Taiwan44.5
20Spain44.7
Asia Avg87.7
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Japan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Japan's population is predicted to fall to 120 218 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 1.40. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
7Nigeria195.9m
8Bangladesh161.4m
9Russia145.7m
10Japan127.2m
11Mexico126.2m
12Ethiopia109.2m
13Philippines106.7m
14Egypt98.4m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
6Malta83.8
7S. Korea83.7
8Liechtenstein83.3
9Norway83.2
10Spain83.0
11Sweden83.0
12Italy82.9
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
96Malaysia2.58
97Hungary1.42
98Romania1.42
99Japan1.40
100Poland1.40
101Nepal2.60
102Macedonia1.40
103Fiji2.61
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
178Netherlands41.9
179Slovenia42.7
180Finland43.3
181Hong Kong43.7
182Portugal44.7
183Germany47.7
184Italy48.6
185Japan53.1
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
130Guyana2.0%
131Central African Rep.1.9%
132Romania1.9%
133Japan1.8%
134Sudan1.8%
135Albania1.8%
136Pakistan1.7%
137Nepal1.7%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
185Qatar0.7%
186Nigeria0.6%
187Maldives0.6%
188China0.6%
189Japan0.6%
190Oman0.5%
191Madagascar0.4%
192Montenegro0.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #japan #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
23Czechia37.7
24Ireland38.3
25Chile39.9
26Japan41.9
27Slovakia42.5
28Estonia42.8
Asia Avg99.9
World Avg87.9
q=199.
Japan performs very well in ensuring human rights and freedom compared to most other countries. Japan comes in the best 20 in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)18 (the lowest in Asia). It does better than average in terms of opposing gender inequality19, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports20 (one of the best in Asia), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms21 (amongst the lowest in Asia), its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice22, freethought23, LGBT equality24 (amongst the best in Asia), supporting press freedom25 and in speed of uptake of HR treaties26. Japan allows extensive religious freedom and has one of the lowest rates of religious persecution worldwide27. In 2017, it strengthened laws against sexual violence, further increasing protections for women's rights28. But, things could still be better. Japan does worse than average in its nominal commitment to Human Rights29. Japan is famed for being insular, and likewise its attitude towards asylum seekers is needlessly uncooperative - granting just 28 out of 10,901 applicants in 201628 and allowing substandard and abusive behaviour towards imported workers28.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Japan's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #Japan #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
4Japan51.0
5S. Korea51.3
6Sri Lanka52.9
7Bhutan55.1
8China60.4
9Brunei62.6
10Malaysia62.8
11Oman62.9
12N. Korea65.0
13=Thailand65.3
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
6S. Korea51.3
7Sri Lanka52.9
8Bhutan55.1
9China60.4
10Norway61.0
11Brunei62.6
12Malaysia62.8
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau31.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean31, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa31.

For more, see:

Health:

Japan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Japan comes in the best 20 for its average life expectancy11 (one of the best in Asia) and in its adolescent birth rate19. It does better than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance32 and in its immunizations take-up33. Japan does not succeed in everything, however. Japan does worse than average for its fertility rate13, its alcohol consumption rate34 and in its smoking rate35. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to its suicide rate36 (one of the highest in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Japan throughout the 1990s was the highest in the world, starting at 79yrs, except a few years where Andorra took the top spot. It improved this by another +5.4yrs in the 30 years from 1990, although less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
6Malta83.8
7S. Korea83.7
8Liechtenstein83.3
9Norway83.2
10Spain83.0
11Sweden83.0
12Italy82.9
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
34
Pos.2016
Per Capita34
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
115=Congo, (Brazzaville)7.8
115=Brazil7.8
117Panama7.9
118=Japan8.0
118=Montenegro8.0
120Malta8.1
121=Macedonia8.1
122Burkina Faso8.2
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
96Malaysia2.58
97Hungary1.42
98Romania1.42
99Japan1.40
100Poland1.40
101Nepal2.60
102Macedonia1.40
103Fiji2.61
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
35
Pos.201435
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
159Serbia1 644
160Cyprus1 688
161Croatia1 709
162Japan1 713
163Hungary1 759
164Estonia1 775
165Ukraine1 854
166Jordan1 855
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate36
Pos.2013
Per 100k36
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
81Slovenia44
82Ukraine44.8
83Latvia48.2
84Japan49.4
85Hungary50.6
86=Kazakhstan52.4
86=Guyana52.4
88Belarus57.5
Asia Avg19.50
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
18Jordan18
19S. Korea19
20Kuwait20
21Japan21
22Spain22
23France23
24Italy24
25Qatar25
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better37
Pos.2016
%37
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
26Equatorial Guinea26.7
27=Comoros27.1
27=Bhutan27.1
29Japan27.2
30Angola27.5
31Philippines27.6
32=Sierra Leone27.7
32=Tanzania27.7
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Here's an example of what this can look like, from an author who is clearly in awe with Japanese longevity:

In April 2016 I visited a Japanese abstract artist, Toko Shinoda, who had her first public exhibition in 1940 and is still producing art every day at the age of 103. In 2015 she had a book published jointly with a journalist who interviewed her which sold more than 500,000 copies, an indication that the Japanese public is now fascinated by such centenarianism. She lives alone at her apartment and studio in central Tokyo, and is looked after by a maid who commutes one hour each way, six days a week, for the task. The maid is 78.

"The Fate of the West" by Bill Emmott (2017)38

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
19
Pos.2015
Per 100019
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
6Singapore3.8
7Netherlands4.0
8Denmark4.0
9Japan4.1
10Cyprus5.0
11Sweden5.7
12Norway5.9
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
33
Pos.2015
Avg %33
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
51Croatia95.9
52Nicaragua95.9
53Tunisia95.7
54Japan95.7
55Portugal95.7
56=Qatar95.6
56=Armenia95.6
58Uruguay95.6
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Japan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
4Maldives55.0
5Jordan56.5
6N. Korea57.5
7Indonesia62.4
8S. Korea62.8
9Bangladesh67.0
10=India68.6
11Lebanon68.8
12=Nepal68.8
13Armenia69.5
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
4Peru48.2
5Sri Lanka49.0
6Costa Rica49.6
7Greece50.4
8Italy51.8
9Ecuador52.0
10Mexico53.2
11Canada53.4
12Maldives55.0
World Avg85.7
q=188.
With regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Japan comes best in the world. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. Japan performs the best in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. It comes in the best 20 in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population40. It does better than average when it comes to its environmental performance41 (amongst the best in Asia), its score on the Green Future Index42 (amongst the best in Asia), energy to GDP efficiency43 and in its forested percent change 1990-201544. But, things could still be better. Japan does worse than average in annual meat consumption per person45.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
44
Pos.2015
%44
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
77Russia+00.8
78Sweden+00.8
79Mongolia+00.1
80Japan00.0
81=Afghanistan00.0
81=Yemen00.0
81=Tuvalu00.0
81=Libya00.0
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
41
Pos.201841
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
17New Zealand76.0
18Netherlands75.5
19Israel75.0
20Japan74.7
21Australia74.1
22Greece73.6
23Taiwan72.8
24Cyprus72.6
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better43
Pos.201443
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
43=Chile10.42
43=Lithuania10.42
43=Norway10.42
46Japan10.20
47Brazil10.10
48=Algeria10.00
48=Macedonia10.00
48=Croatia10.00
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
14=Mongolia1993 Dec 29
14=St Kitts & Nevis1993 Dec 29
14=New Zealand1993 Dec 29
14=Japan1993 Dec 29
14=Uganda1993 Dec 29
14=Belarus1993 Dec 29
14=Burkina Faso1993 Dec 29
14=Bahamas1993 Dec 29
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better40
Pos.2011
%40
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
14Nicaragua67.0%
15El Salvador66.8%
16Indonesia66.5%
17Japan64.7%
18Panama64.6%
19Peru63.9%
20Chile63.8%
21Ivory Coast63.7%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
45
Pos.2021
kg45
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
97Saudi Arabia55.1
98Zimbabwe56.0
99Belize56.6
100Japan57.2
101Turkmenistan57.4
102Papua New Guinea58.5
103Trinidad & Tobago58.5
104Armenia60.0
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.
Green Future Index
Higher is better42
Pos.2023
Score42
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
25S. Africa5.2
26Uruguay5.1
27China5.1
28Japan5.1
29Hungary5.1
30Chile5.1
31Czechia5.0
32Singapore5.0
Asia Avg4.3
World Avg4.8
q=76.

The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index noted that Japan's nuclear energy production growth has recently been higher than any of the 76-countries it reviewed, helping its transition towards sustainability.46

7. Japan's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)47
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank47
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
4Singapore27.9
5Israel32.2
6Hong Kong32.6
7Russia40.6
8Turkey50.1
9Malaysia50.2
10Macau50.8
11Cyprus54.0
12UAE56.0
13Saudi Arabia60.4
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)47
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank47
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
16UK21.5
17Canada21.6
18Ireland21.7
19Japan21.9
20=S. Korea24.0
20=Faroe Islands24.0
22Hungary24.2
23Luxembourg24.4
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2948
2Israel4.1148
3Japan3.5848
4Finland3.1748
5Sweden3.1648
6Denmark3.0548
7Taiwan3.0148
8Austria3.0049
9Switzerland2.9650
10Germany2.8448
11USA2.7451
12Belgium2.4648
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
52
Pos.201852
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
29Lithuania94.9%
30Ukraine94.6%
31Tonga93.7%
32Japan93.6%
33Tajikistan93.1%
34Barbados92.9%
35Albania92.9%
36Belarus92.2%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
53
Pos.2021
Years53
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
52Tunisia15.4
53Peru15.4
54Kuwait15.3
55Japan15.2
56Liechtenstein15.2
57Mauritius15.2
58Belarus15.2
59Croatia15.1
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
58Central African Rep.58
59Kenya59
60Egypt60
61Japan61
62Malta62
63Ghana63
64Samoa64
65Jordan65
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
54
Pos.2015
Score54
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
4Macau1582
5Estonia1573
6=Taiwan1571
6=Canada1571
8Finland1568
9S. Korea1557
10China154355
11=Ireland1528
11=Slovenia1528
Asia Avg1398
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity
Lower is better
56
Pos.2018
%56
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4=Switzerland9
4=Denmark9
6Germany10
7=UK10
7=Sweden10
7=Japan10
7=Finland10
11Latvia11
12=France11
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better57
Pos.200657
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4=Japan105
4=Taiwan105
4=China105
7Italy102
8=Iceland101
8=Switzerland101
8=Mongolia101
11Netherlands100
12=Norway100
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
58
Pos.201658
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
15UAE92%
16Bahrain92%
17Estonia91%
18Japan91%
19New Zealand89%
20=USA89%
20=Canada89%
20=Belgium89%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
59
Pos.201359
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
6Israel0.20
7Colombia0.22
8=S. Africa0.22
8=Japan0.22
10Philippines0.24
11Czechia0.24
12Argentina0.27
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
60
Pos.2017
Ratio60
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
8Portugal26.6
9Ireland26.1
10UK24.7
11Japan22.1
12France18.8
13Canada18.3
14Peru18.3
15Ecuador18.2
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
61
Pos.2022
%61
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
118Portugal26.0
119Lebanon24.0
120Egypt23.0
121S. Korea22.0
122=Afghanistan21.0
122=Belgium21.0
124Japan20.0
125Cambodia19.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
62
Pos.2022
Points62
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
16Iceland74.0
17=Canada74.0
18UK73.0
19=Japan73.0
19=Belgium73.0
21France72.0
22Austria71.0
23Seychelles70.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.

Thoughout the 2000s, Japan made serious improvements to its Corruption Perception Index score and sat amongst the top-10 best-improvers that decade.

Happiness
Higher is better
63
Pos.2018
Score63
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
51Slovenia5.9
52Romania5.9
53Latvia5.9
54Japan5.9
55Mauritius5.9
56Jamaica5.9
57S. Korea5.9
58Northern Cyprus5.8
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
42Namibia42
43St Vincent & Grenadines43
44Cyprus44
45Japan45
46Moldova46
47Greece47
48Australia48
49Seychelles49
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
44Fiji44
45Bosnia & Herzegovina45
46Poland46
47Japan47
48Armenia48
49UAE49
50Greece50
51Niger51
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

The Charities Aid Foundation has offered some commentary on why the culture of Japan doesn't involve much direct social help between citizens, and hence why it has consistently scored towards the bottom of the World Giving Index:

Japan has historically had an unusually limited civil society for an advanced industrialised nation - the rules around charitable giving are complex, expectations of state provision are high, and organised nonprofits are a relatively new phenomena.

Charities Aid Foundation (2021)

Japan also has an excellent long-term record on keeping corruption low.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
64
Pos.2023
Score64
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
4New Zealand1.31
5Austria1.32
6Singapore1.33
7Portugal1.33
8Slovenia1.33
9Japan1.34
10Switzerland1.34
11Canada1.35
12Czechia1.38
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
15Colombia15
16Costa Rica16
17Hungary17
18Japan18
19Chile19
20Kazakhstan20
21Thailand21
22Algeria22
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
44Kenya44
45Serbia45
46Bolivia46
47Japan47
48Czechia48
49Argentina49
50Brazil50
51Dominican Rep.51
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
65
Pos.2019
Score65
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
70Finland2.03
71Haiti2.18
72Kosovo2.26
73Japan2.29
74Netherlands2.35
75Ecuador2.46
76Kuwait2.49
77Malaysia2.50
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better66
Pos.201966
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
4Sweden2.90
5=Slovenia2.90
5=Japan2.90
7Finland3.00
8=Czechia3.00
8=Norway3.00
8=S. Korea3.00
8=Spain3.00
12Netherlands3.10
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better67
Pos.2017
%67
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
30Ireland31.8
31=Lebanon31.8
32Montenegro31.9
33Japan32.1
34=Mongolia32.3
34=Switzerland32.3
36Bangladesh32.4
37Mauritania32.6
Asia Avg35.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #japan #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #universalism

Religiosity (2018)56
Pos.Lower is better
%56
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4=Switzerland9
4=Denmark9
6Germany10
7=UK10
7=Sweden10
7=Japan10
7=Finland10
11Latvia11
12=France11
12=Belgium11
14Austria12
15Hungary14
16Albania15
17=Lithuania16
17=S. Korea16
17=Russia16
20Australia18
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)68
Pos.Higher is better
%68
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
6Denmark48
7France44
8Belgium43
9=Netherlands42
9=Germany42
9=UK42
12Cuba40
13Slovenia35
14Bulgaria34
15Hungary32
16Norway31
17S. Korea30
18Finland28
19Russia27
20Australia25
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below69:

Christian1.6%
Muslim0.2%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist36.2%
Folk Religion0.4%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated57%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 38.6% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 10% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%. note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people belong to both Shintoism and Buddhism (2005)70.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on Japan71. Belief in heaven and hell is at just 4%. More people don't know what to believe (37%). Some believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (37%). Also, 3% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 10% believe in reincarnation, which seems very low compared to the numbers of Buddhists.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: From the 1950s Japan reformed itself, granting extensive religious freedom to its citizens and attaining one of the lowest rates of violent religious persecution worldwide27. Its Constitution grants "strong protections of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as well as a clear separation of religion and state"72.

The Soka Gakkai sect has 8 million members in Japan73.

Links:

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