Japan

Population: 126,771,662 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: Japanese

Background: While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world...

Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY, JPY (¥88.90 = US$1))

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.