JAPAN AND USA

(GROUP 3)
1. GOVERNMENT

• JAPAN: Japan is a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary system of

government based on the separation of powers. The Emperor is the symbol of the
state and does not hold political functions, only performing ceremonial duties.
• USA: The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President
of the United States (the head of state and head of government), Congress, and
judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal
government shares sovereignty with the state governments.
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• JAPAN: Japan has diplomatic relations with nearly all independent nations and
has been an active member of the United Nations since 1956. Japanese foreign
policy has aimed to promote peace and prosperity for the Japanese people by
working closely with the West and supporting the United Nations.
• USA: The U.S. engages in diplomatic relations with countries around the world. It
maintains diplomatic missions, such as embassies and consulates, in numerous
countries and participates actively in international organizations like the United
Nations, NATO, and the World Trade Organization.
3. HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM

• JAPAN: In Japan, human rights systems and policies have been established and
developed within the national government under the Constitution, which sets the
respect for fundamental human rights as one of its basic principles, as well as
international rules including human rights conventions drafted by the United
Nations.
• USA: The United States uses a wide range of tools to advance a freedom agenda,
including bilateral diplomacy, multilateral engagement, foreign assistance,
reporting and public outreach, and economic sanctions. The Department of State
works with democratic partners, international and regional organizations,
nongovernmental organizations, and engaged citizens to support those seeking
freedom.
4. HEALTHCARE

• JAPAN: Known for providing universal coverage and maintaining relatively low
healthcare costs compared to other developed countries, like the US.
• USA: The US healthcare system does not provide universal coverage and can be
defined as a mixed system, where publicly financed government Medicare and
Medicaid (discussed here) health coverage coexists with privately financed
(private health insurance plans) market coverage.
5. ECONOMY

• JAPAN: The economy of Japan is a highly developed/advanced social market

economy, often referred to as an East Asian model. It is the third-largest in the
world by nominal GDP and the fourth-largest by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). It
is the world's third-largest developed economy.
• USA: A highly developed/advanced market economy. It is the world's largest
economy by nominal GDP, and the second-largest by purchasing power parity
(PPP) behind China.
6. CULTURE/CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

• JAPAN: Japanese culture emphasizes group harmony, respect for elders, and
social hierarchies and emphasizes tradition and conformity,
• USA: American culture values individualism, personal freedom, and self-expression
and prioritizes innovation and creativity.
7. HISTORY

• JAPAN: was settled about 35,000 years ago by Paleolithic people from the Asian
mainland. At the end of the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago, a culture called
the Jomon developed. Jomon hunter-gatherers fashioned fur clothing, wooden
houses, and elaborate clay vessels. Japan has a rich and complex history
spanning over thousands of years.
• USA: The United States of America is at once a very new nation and a very old
nation. The first settlers - Asian hunters and nomads - reached North America
about 30,000 years ago. However, the United States of America did not come into
being until 1776 with the Declaration of Independence.
8. LOCATION AND SIZE

• JAPAN: Japan is an island nation located in East Asia. It is the world's 11th largest
country by land area, covering approximately 377,915 square kilometers. Japan is
located in the Pacific Ocean, east of China and Russia, and south of the Korean
Peninsula. This land area is approximately 94% of the area of California. Japan is
thus the 17th biggest country in Asia and in terms of area ranked 63rd worldwide.
• USA: The United States of America is a country located in North America. It is the
third largest country in the world by land area, covering approximately 3.8 million
square miles. It is bordered by Canada to the north, Mexico to the south, and the
Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean to the west and east, respectively.
7. TAXATION

• JAPAN: Japan has a complex tax system that is based on the income tax and
consumption taxes. The income tax rates in Japan vary depending on the
taxpayer's income level and range from 5% to 45%.
 • USA: The taxation system in the United States is a federal system, which means
that it is governed by the federal government and the individual states. The income
tax rates in the United States vary depending on the taxpayer's income level and
range from 10% to 37%.
8. SIMILARITIES

• DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT: Both Japan and the United States are
democratic countries with a system of government that involves elected officials
and periodic elections.

• TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS: Both countries have a strong focus on

technological innovation and have made significant contributions to various fields,
such as electronics, automotive, and telecommunications.

• ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES: Japan and the United States are two of the largest
economies in the world, with highly developed industries and a significant
presence in global trade.

• CULTURAL INFLUENCE: Both countries have had a significant impact on global

popular culture. Japanese anime, manga, and video games have gained
widespread international popularity, while American music, movies, and television
shows have a global audience.

• EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS: Japan and the United States both prioritize education
and have well-established education systems. Both countries have renowned
universities and place importance on educational attainment.

• STRONG ALLIANCES: Japan and the United States have a longstanding alliance
and close diplomatic ties. They have collaborated on various political, economic,
and security issues over the years.

• IMMIGRATION: Both countries have experienced significant immigration

throughout their histories, resulting in diverse populations and multicultural
societies.
• PROSPERITY: Both countries have achieved economic prosperity through different
means.

• POLITICAL STABILITY: Both the United States and Japan have a history of political
stability. In the United States, stable governance is ensured through a system of
checks and balances. In Japan, political stability is maintained through a
parliamentary system with a constitutional monarchy.

• MULTILINGUAL: Both Japan and the United States are considered to be

multilingual countries. In Japan, the official language is Japanese, which is spoken
by the majority of the population. In the United States, there is no official language
at the federal level, but English is the most commonly spoken language.

• EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE: Both Japan and the United States have efficient
and well-developed infrastructures that contribute to their economic growth and
overall quality of life. They invest in the construction and renovation of roads,
bridges, railways, airports, and other essential facilities to ensure efficient
transportation and connectivity.