Japan

Languages:

The official language of Japan is Japanese, and it is spoken by almost the entire population. Japanese is a member of the Japonic language family, and it has its roots in the ancient Japanese language. Japan also has several dialects, with the most widely spoken being the Tokyo dialect. Japan has a high literacy rate, and the Japanese writing system consists of kanji, hiragana, and katakana, which are all used in combination. The use of English is also becoming increasingly common, particularly in major cities and in business settings.

Religion:

Japan does not have an official religion, and the country is known for its religious diversity. The two major religions in Japan are Shintoism and Buddhism, which are often practiced simultaneously. Shintoism is an indigenous religion that centers around the veneration of nature, ancestors, and kami (spirits). Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China and Korea in the 6th century and has since become an integral part of Japanese culture. Christianity and Islam are also practiced in Japan, but they represent a much smaller percentage of the population.

Ethnic Groups:

Japanese 98.1%, Chinese 0.5%, Korean 0.4%, other 1% (includes Filipino, Vietnamese, and Brazilian) (2016 est.) note: data represent population by nationality; up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil