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Demografie

Japanese society is ethnically and linguistically homogeneous, with small populations of primarily Ryukyuans (1.5 million), North and South Koreans (1 million), Chinese and Taiwanese (0.5 million), Filipinos (0.5 million) and Brazilians (250,000). Japan also has indigenous minority groups such as the Ainu, Ryukyuans and burakumin. Japanese citizenship is conferred jus sanguinis, and monolingual Japanese-speaking minorities often reside in Japan for generations under permanent residency status without acquiring citizenship in their country of birth. About 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language.

Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world (85.2 years for women and 78.3 years for men in 2002 [3]). However, the Japanese population is rapidly aging, the effect of a postwar baby boom followed by a decrease in births in the latter part of the 20th century. By 2007, over 20% of the population will be over the age of 65. The changes in the demographic structure have created a number of social issues, particularly a potential decline in the workforce population and increases in the cost of social securities like the public pension plan.

The population started declining in 2005, as the 1.067 million births were exceeded by the 1.077 million deaths. At current birth and death rates, the 2005 population of 128 million is expected to decline to 100 million in 2050, and to 64 million in 2100. Demographers and government planners are currently in a heated debate over how to cope with this problem. [4] Immigration and birth incentives are sometimes suggested as a possible solution to provide younger workers to support the nation's aging population. Immigration, however, is not publicly popular as recent increased crime rates are often attributed to foreigners living in Japan.

Religie
The Toshodaiji Buddhist temple, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nara.

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The Japanese people's concern towards religion is mostly related to mythology, traditions, and neighborhood activities rather than the source of morality or the guideline for one's life, for which sometimes Confucianism, or even Taoism, tends to serve as the basis for the moral code. When asked to identify their religion, most would profess to believe in either Shintoism (54%) or Buddhism (40%), for simple reasons like their family has belonged to some sect of Buddhism or to avoid contention with religious foreigners. Nonetheless, most of the people are not atheists, and the tendency is often identified with syncretism, secularism, and even irreligion. This results in a variety of practices such as parents and children celebrating Shinto rituals, students praying before exams, couples holding a wedding at a Christian church and funerals being held at Buddhist temples. A minority profess to Christianity (0.7%) and other religions (4.7%) like shamanism, Islam, and Hinduism. Also, since the mid-19th century, many religious sects called shinkoshukyo, and later shinshukyo, emerged.

Educaþie

Sistemul educaþiei obligatorii a fost introdus în Japonia în anul 1872 ca efect al restaurãrii Meiji. Din 1947, educaþia obligatorie constã în ºcoala primarã ºi gimnaziul, care dureazã 9 ani, (de la vârsta de 6 la 15 ani). Aproape toþi copii îºi continuã educaþia la un liceu, care dureazã trei ani, iar 96% din absolvenþii de liceu merg mai departe la universitate, post liceale, ºcoli de meserii, sau alte instituþii de învãþãmânt.

Limbã

Limba japonezã face parte din familia limbilor aglutinante ºi conþine un sistem de ranguri sociale reflectare a structurii ierahice a societãþii japoneze, cu configurații verbale ºi cuvinte specializate în vocabular care indicã statutul social al vorbitorului sau ascultãtorului. Lingviºtii nu au cãzut de acord dacã japoneza e o limbã Altaic limbã, o rudã a limbii Coreene sau o limbã izolatã.

Japoneza încorporeazã numeroase elemente strãine. Sistemul japonez de scrierea foloseºte caracterele chinezeºti kanji ºi douã kana, douã seturi de silabare, pornind de la variante simplificate ale unor caractere chinezeºti. Deºi unele cuvinte sunt native altele au fost împrumutate sau derivate din Chinezã. În perioada modernã limba japonezã a împrumutat masiv cuvinte din mai multe limbi europene, inclusiv din limba englezã.

Cultura
O dansatoare tradiþionalã japonezã

Cultura japonezã a evoluat teribil de mult de-a lungul secolelor de la forma ei originarã, cultura Jomon la un hibrid contemporan, care combinã influenþe din þãri din Asia, Europa ºi America.

Iniþial China ºi Coreea au avut o influenþã puternicã asupra dezvoltãrii culturii Yayoi începând cu anul 300 Î.H. ºi culminând cu introducerea culturilor de orez, ceremonialului funerar, a olãritului, picturii, scrisului, poeziei, etichetei de curte, a limbii chineze scrise ºi a Budismului Mahayana pânã în secolul VII A.D.

În lunga ei erã medievalã Japonia ºi-a dezvoltat o culturã unicã, printr-o diversificare treptatã a tuturor artelor: (ikebana, origami, ukiyo-e), meºteºuguri (pãpuºi, articole lãcuite, oale), dans tradiþional, teatrul kabuki, No, bunraku, rakugo), tradiþii diferite ( onsen, sento, ceremonia ceaiului, arhitecturã, grãdini, sãbii), ºi bucãtãrie.

vezi ºi articolul Festivaluri tradiþionale japoneze vezi ºi articolul Literatura japonezã

Cultura modernã ºi contemporanã

Începând cu mijlocul secolului al XIX-lea au început sã prevaleze influenþele vestice, cea americanã devenind dominantã dupã cel de-al doilea rãzboi mondial (1945). Aceste influenþe sunt vizibile în cultura popularã japonezã contemporanã, care combinã influenþele asiatice, europene ºi, începând cu 1950, americane. Deopotrivã în þarã sau în strãinãtate, japonezii au cucerit recunoaºterea internaþionalã în domeniul modei, cinematografiei, literaturii, al programelor de televiziune, al jocurilor video sau pe computer, dar ºi al muzicii. De asemenea, japonezii sunt recunoscuþi ca cei mai mari cheltuitori din lume pe bunuri de lux. Today, Japan is a major exporter of such culture, which has gained popularity around the world, particularly in the other countries of East Asia. Especially notable contributions of modern Japan to the rest of the world come from the technology sector, such as that of cell phones, camcorders, and mp3 players. This category also includes some of the highest caliber video games and game consoles. The unique art and thematic styles present in animation (anime) and graphic novels (manga) have also presented a unique addition to the world's entertainment field. Japanese culture has attracted many devotees in Europe and North America as well. Recently Japan defeated Cuba in the first World Baseball Classic to be recognized as the best baseball team in the world.