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While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.
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Country
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Surface Area: 377,835 square km: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Population: 127,333,002 (July 2004 est.)
Located in: Eastern Asia
Capital City: Tokyo
Head of State: Emperor AKIHITO
Prime Minister: Junichiro KOIZUMI
Independent since: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
Currency: Yen (JPY)
Flag (image): 
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