Country

Japan

Also Known As Nippon

Eastern Asia

An archipelago nation off the eastern coast of the Asian mainland, comprising four main islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, and thousands of smaller ones. Its Heian period (794 to 1185), centered on the imperial capital at Heian-kyo, present-day Kyoto, produced a highly refined aristocratic court culture that gave rise to some of the earliest and most fully realized works of Japanese prose literature. This is the home setting Murasaki Shikibu and The Tale of Genji are described against in the Literature atlas.

Facts

Capital

Tokyo 2

Formerly Edo; became the imperial capital in 1868, replacing Kyoto.

Population

122,587,000 2

Britannica 2026 estimate. The atlas own earlier region-era figure, 123,900,000, is not overwritten; this population-year fact dates THIS value specifically.

Population Estimate Year

2026 2

Area (sq km)

377,975 2

Total land area across the four main islands and thousands of smaller ones.

Classification

Sovereignty Status

UN Member State 1

Japan

Cities

113 entries

Subregion

Country (Contained By)

Continent

Population Band

Capital Status

Founding Era

Showing 1 to 50 of 113 in Cities, page 1 of 3.

FAQs

What was Tokyo called before it became the capital of Japan?

Tokyo was called Edo until 1868, when it was renamed eastern capital in contrast to Kyoto, the earlier capital to the west.

Tokyo was originally known as Edo, a name meaning estuary that came from the city's position on a bay. In 1868 the name was changed to Tokyo, which means eastern capital. The new name was chosen as a contrast to Kyoto, the previous capital, which lies to the west.

Connections

Associated With

Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Aichi Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Chiba Prefecture

East Asia

Fukuoka

Source Fukuoka (Wikipedia)

Fukuoka Prefecture

Fukuoka Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Fukuoka Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Gifu Prefecture

Hiroshima

Source Hiroshima (Wikipedia)

Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Hiroshima Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Hokkaido

Hokkaido is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Hokkaido (Wikipedia)

Hyogo Prefecture

Hyogo Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Hyogo Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Ibaraki Prefecture

Kanagawa Prefecture

Kanagawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Kanagawa Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Kawasaki

Source Kawasaki (Wikipedia)

Kobe

Source Kobe (Wikipedia)

Kumamoto Prefecture

Kyoto

This source names Japan directly: "basin in the Kansai region of Honshu, Japan, ringed by mountains that historically limited its growth and gave the city its grid-planned layout, modeled on the Chinese capital Chang'an when it was..."

Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Kyoto

This source names Kyoto directly: "capital at Heian-kyo, present-day Kyoto, produced a highly refined aristocratic court culture that gave rise to some of the earliest and most fully realized works of Japanese prose literature."

Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Kyoto Prefecture

Kyoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Kyoto Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Miyagi Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

Nagoya

Nagoya is a city in Japan.

Source Nagoya (Wikipedia)

Niigata Prefecture

Okayama Prefecture

Osaka

Osaka is a city in Japan.

Source Osaka (Wikipedia)

Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Osaka Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Sagamihara

Sagamihara is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Source Sagamihara (Wikipedia)

Saitama

Source Saitama (Wikipedia)

Saitama Prefecture

Saitama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan.

Source Saitama Prefecture (Wikipedia)

Sapporo

Source Sapporo (Wikipedia)

Shizuoka Prefecture

Taiwan

Japan lies to the northeast.

Source Taiwan (Wikipedia)

Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's capital.

Source Tokyo (Wikipedia)

Tokyo

Source Tokyo (Wikipedia)

Yokohama

Yokohama is a city in Japan.

Source Yokohama (Wikipedia)

Yokosuka

Yokosuka is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Source Yokosuka (Wikipedia)

Bordered By Water

Has Capital

Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

Source Tokyo (Wikipedia)

Long-Form Articles

The Sea That Opened Behind It

In the Other Atlases

Has Member

Group of Eight (G8)

Also in Economics Atlas: a member of this subject.

Nationals Include

Chie Nakane

Also in Society and Culture Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Chie NakaneLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articletier 3

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Chie Nakane (中根千枝, Nakane Chie; November 30, 1926 – October 12, 2021) was a Japanese anthropologist and Professor Emerita of Social Anthropology at the University of Tokyo.

Makoto Itoh

Also in Society and Culture Atlas: a national of this subject.

Akihiko Hoshide

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Akihiko Hoshide

Ayu Yoneda

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Ayu Yoneda

Chiaki Mukai

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Chiaki Mukai

Hideo Itokawa

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Kimiya Yui

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Kimiya Yui

Koichi Wakata

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Koichi Wakata

Makoto Suwa

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Makoto Suwa

Mamoru Mohri

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Mamoru Mohri

Naoko Yamazaki

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Naoko Yamazaki

Norishige Kanai

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Norishige Kanai

Satoshi Furukawa

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Satoshi Furukawa

Soichi Noguchi

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Soichi Noguchi

Takao Doi

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Takao Doi

Takuya Onishi

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Toyohiro Akiyama

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Toyohiro Akiyama

Yusaku Maezawa

Also in Space and Astronomy Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Yusaku Maezawa

Akebono Tarō

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Akebono Tarō (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph

Quote, Lead paragraph

Akebono Tarō (Japanese: 曙太郎, Hepburn: Akebono Tarō; born Chadwick Ha’aheo Rowan; 8 May 1969 – 6 April 2024) was an American-born Japanese professional sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii.

Akiko Yazawa

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Fujisawa Hideyuki

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Hideyuki Fujisawa, WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Hideyuki Fujisawa (藤沢秀行, Fujisawa Hideyuki; June 14, 1925 – May 8, 2009), also known as Shuko Fujisawa, was a Japanese professional Go player.

Go Seigen

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Go Seigen

Hiroshi Inoue

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Honinbo Shusaku

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Ichiriki Ryo

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Ichiriki Ryo - WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Ryo Ichiriki (一力遼, Ichiriki Ryō; born 10 June 1997) is a Japanese professional 9-dan Go player.

Ichiro Suzuki

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Ichiro Suzuki (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph, nationality

Quote, Lead paragraph, nationality

is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder

Kaori Icho

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia, Kaori IchoLead sentence 1tier 2

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Kaori Icho (Japanese: 伊調馨, Hepburn: Ichō Kaori; born 13 June 1984) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler.

Kato Masao

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Masao KatoLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Kato Masao Honorary Oza (加藤正夫, Katō Masao, March 15, 1947 – December 30, 2004), also known as Kato Kensei (加藤剱正 Katō Kensei), was a Japanese professional go player.

Kohei Uchimura

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Kohei Uchimura

Koichi Kobayashi

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia, Koichi KobayashiLead sentence 1tier 2

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Koichi Kobayashi (小林光一, こばやしこういち, Kobayashi Kōichi; born September 10, 1952) is a Japanese Go player.

Koji Murofushi

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Koji Murofushi (Wikipedia)Lead sentence, nationality

Quote, Lead sentence, nationality

is a Japanese former hammer thrower and sports scientist

Kosuke Hagino

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Kosuke HaginoLead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Kosuke Hagino (萩野公介, Hagino Kōsuke; born 15 August 1994) is a Japanese former competitive swimmer who specialized in the individual medley and 200 m freestyle.

Masayuki Mochizuki

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia, Masayuki MochizukiLead sentence 1tier 2

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki (born January 9, 1979) is a Japanese professional backgammon player from Tokyo.

Miho Macleod

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Naomi Osaka

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Otake Hideo

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Hideo OtakeLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Otake Hideo (大竹英雄, Ōtake Hideo; born May 12, 1942) is a retired Japanese professional Go player.

Rin Kaiho

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Rin Kaiho

Sakata Eio

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia, Sakata EioLead sentence 1tier 2

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Sakata Eio (坂田栄男, Sakata Eio; February 15, 1920 – October 22, 2010) was a 9-dan Japanese professional Go player.

Sawao Katō

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Sawao Kato - WikipediaLead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Sawao Katō (加藤澤男, Katō Sawao; born October 11, 1946) is a Japanese former gymnast and one of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time.

Shibano Toramaru

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Shibano Toramaru - WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Toramaru Shibano (芝野虎丸, Shibano Toramaru; born 9 November 1999) is a Japanese Go professional who won the prestigious Meijin tournament in 2019 at age 19, becoming the first teenager to achieve one of the seven major Japanese titles.

Shohei Ohtani

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Takemiya Masaki

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Yasuhiro Yamashita

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Yoda Norimoto

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Yoshiharu Habu

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Yoshinobu Miyake

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Yoshinobu Miyake - WikipediaLead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Yoshinobu Miyake (三宅義信, Miyake Yoshinobu; born November 24, 1939) is a retired Japanese weightlifter and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lieutenant.

Yusuke Takanashi

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Yuta Iyama

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia, Yuta IyamaLead sentence 1tier 2

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Yuta Iyama Kisei, Honinbo, Meijin (井山裕太, Iyama Yūta; born 24 May 1989) is a Japanese professional Go player.

Yutaka Take

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia, Yutaka TakeLead sentence 1tier 2

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Yutaka Take (武豊, Take Yutaka) (born March 15, 1969, in Kyoto, Kyoto) is a Japanese jockey.

Yuzuru Hanyu

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Yuzuru Hanyu

Showing 251 to 300 of 316 in Nationals Include, page 6 of 7.

Origin Of

Japanese-Western Eclectic Architecture

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Metabolism

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Getty Art and Architecture Thesaurus: Metabolism (movement)Scope note

Quote, Scope note

Japanese architectural movement of the 1960s and 1970s, dedicated to urban-scale issues based on biologic principles of dynamic growth and change.

Minka

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Getty Research Institute, Art and Architecture Thesaurus: MinkaScope note

Quote, Scope note

Refers to a style of Japanese domestic structure

Ryukyuan Architecture

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Shinden-zukuri

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Shoin-zukuri

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Ceramics

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Gardner's Art Through the AgesFred S. Kleiner (after Helen Gardner)

Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Hakuin Ekaku

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Getty Research Institute, Union List of Artist Names: Hakuin Ekaku (Japanese monk and painter, 1685 or 1686-1768)Birth and Death Places

Quote, Birth and Death Places

Born: Hara (Nagano, Japan) (inhabited place)

Hokusai

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Gardner's Art Through the AgesFred S. Kleiner (after Helen Gardner)

Kanō Tan'yū

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Getty Research Institute: Union List of Artist Names: Kanō Tan'yūBirth and Death Places

Quote, Birth and Death Places

Born: Kyoto (Kyōto, Japan) (inhabited place)

Kawase Hasui

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Tadao Ando

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Tani Bunchō

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Getty Research Institute, Union List of Artist Names: Tani Bunchō (Japanese painter, 1763-1840)Birth and Death Places

Quote, Birth and Death Places

Born: Tokyo (Tōkyō, Japan) (inhabited place)

Toshiko MacAdam

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Toshiko MacAdam

Unkei

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Utagawa Kunisada

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Getty Research Institute, Union List of Artist Names: Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese printmaker and illustrator, 1786-1864)Birth and Death Places

Quote, Birth and Death Places

Born: Tokyo (Tōkyō, Japan) (inhabited place)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Shinto

Also in Divinity Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Akira Yoshino

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Akira Yoshino

Hiroshi Amano

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Hiroshi Amano

Ichisuke Fujioka

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Ichisuke Fujioka

Isamu Akasaki

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Isamu Akasaki

Momosuke Fukuzawa

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Momosuke Fukuzawa

Namihei Odaira

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Namihei Odaira

Sazō Idemitsu

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Sazo Idemitsu

Shuji Nakamura

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Shuji Nakamura

Yoshio Masuda

Also in Energy Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Yoshio Masuda

Akira

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Akira (1988 film) (Wikipedia)Lead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Akira (Japanese: アキラ, pronounced [aꜜkiɾa]) is a 1988 Japanese animated cyberpunk action thriller film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, produced by Ryōhei Suzuki and Shunzō Katō, and written by Otomo and Izo Hashimoto, based on Otomo's 1982 manga Akira.

Animal Crossing (2001 video game)

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Animal Crossing (video game), WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Animal Crossing, known in Japan as Dōbutsu no Mori, is a social simulation game developed and published by Nintendo.

Bâan: The Boundary of Adulthood

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Barefoot Gen

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Barefoot Gen, WikipediaLead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Barefoot Gen (Japanese: はだしのゲン, Hepburn: Hadashi no Gen) is a Japanese historical manga series written and illustrated by Keiji Nakazawa, loosely based on Nakazawa's experiences as a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.

Bushido, Samurai Saga

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Castle in the Sky

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Castle in the Sky, WikipediaLead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Castle in the Sky, also known as Laputa: Castle in the Sky, is a 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Castlevania (1986 video game)

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Chrono Trigger

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Dance Dance Revolution

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Dance Dance RevolutionLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Introduced in Japan in 1998 as part of the Bemani series, and released in North America and Europe in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution is the pioneering series of the rhythm and dance genre in video games.

Dark Souls

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Departures (2008 film)

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Departures (2008 film) - WikipediaLead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Departures (Japanese: おくりびと, Hepburn: Okuribito; "one who sends off") is a 2008 Japanese drama film directed by Yōjirō Takita and starring Masahiro Motoki, Ryōko Hirosue, and Tsutomu Yamazaki.

Donkey Kong

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Drive My Car (2021 film)

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Drive My Car - WikipediaLead sentence 1

Quote, Lead sentence 1

Drive My Car (Japanese: ドライブ・マイ・カー, Hepburn: Doraibu Mai Kā) is a 2021 Japanese drama film directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Takamasa Oe.

Elden Ring

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Father Mother Sister Brother

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Final Fantasy VII

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Galaga

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Gate of Hell

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Ghost in the Shell

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Gigantis, the Fire Monster

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Godzilla 1985

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Showing 1 to 50 of 280 in Origin Of, page 1 of 6.