Page 5 - Japan Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

RELIGION In April 1999 Prime Minister Hosokawa resigned. Prime Minister Tsutomu Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's Hata formed the successor coalition government Japan's first minority two major religions. They have co- government in almost 40 years. Prime Minister Hata resigned less than 2 existed for several centuries and months later. Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama formed the next have even complemented each government in June 1994 a coalition of his Japan Socialist Party (JSP) the other to a certain degree. Most LDP and the small Sakigake Party. The advent of a coalition containing the Japanese consider themselves JSP and LDP shocked many observers because of their previously fierce Buddhist, Shintoist or both. rivalry. Prime Minister Murayama served from June 1994 to January 1996. Religion does not play a big role in He was succeeded by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto who served from the everyday life of most Japanese January 1996 to July 1998. Prime Minister Hashimoto headed a loose people today. The average person coalition of three parties until the July 1998 Upper House election when the typically follows the religious two smaller parties cut ties with the LDP. rituals at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals may visit a PAGE 3-4 Hashimoto resigned due to a poor electoral showing by the LDP in those shrine or temple on New Year and Population | Time | Visas Upper House elections. He was succeeded as party president of the LDP Insurance | History participates at local festivals (matsuri), most of which have a and Prime Minister by Keizo Obuchi who took office on July 30 1998. PAGE 5 religious background. History | Religion GOVERNMENT PAGE 6 Officially, Japan is a constitutional monarchy with the emperor as the head Health | Language of state. Like the British queen, the emperor is basically a figurehead but one who receives a great deal of respect. Elected officials are considered to PAGE 7 be erai (great, worthy of respect) and it is much more common than in Climate Europe or the US for electoral seats to be 'inherited' by family members. PAGE 8 The power of rural politicians tends to rest in their ability to satisfy their The Land | The People constituents by bringing infrastructure projects - roads, bridges, bullet PAGE 9 train lines etc - to their region. The impression you get is that city dwellers Currency | Credit Cards tend to stay away from the ballot box in favor of interest groups and Changing Money | Tipping citizens' movements. Political news often dominates TV and newspapers but most Japanese do not get directly involved in politics and there seems PAGE 10 Etiquette | Taxis to be a general sense of apathy towards the subject. Safety & Crime PAGE 11-12 Communications | What to Pack Health & Vaccinations PAGE 13 Shopping | Customs PAGE 14-16 Food & Drinks PAGE 17 Culture & The Arts | Religion