f 99 percent for those over the age of 15. It has a labor force of 63,330,000, with trade and services comprising 54 percent; manufacturing, mining, and construction 33 percent; agriculture, forestry, and fishing seven percent; and government three percent. Organized labor involves about 29 percent of employed workers; 76.4 percent of public service workers; 57.9 percent of transportation and telecommunications; 48.7 percent of mining workers; 33.7 percent of manufacturing workers; 18.2 percent of service workers; and 9.3 percent of wholesale, retail, and restaurant workers.
Japan, with its capital in Tokyo, has a constitutional monarchy for its government. Its constitution was adopted in 1947 and the country is divided up into 47 prefectures. It has a civil law system with English-American influence. The Emperor, prime minister, and cabinet make up its executive branch. The legislative branch is a bicameral Diet which consists of an upper house or House of Councillors and a lower house or House of Representatives. Japan also has a Supreme Court.
Since its defeat in World War II, Japan's economy grew, making it a world power. Currently, however, not even its stable economy is able to withstand today's recessionary times. After several years of increasing strain, Japan's economy is facing disaster. For the first time its output has dropped two quarters in a row, yet businesses inventories are at an all time high. Confidence has never been lower, banks are bankrupt, companies are breaking lifetime job commitments, and deflation is under way. The International Monetary Fund estimated that Japan's gross domestic product would fall short of projections for the 1993 fiscal year by five percent.
Japan's economy is suffering from four interacting problems. In the aftermath of stock-and-land-price collapse, corporations and banks have wrecked their balance sheets. Banks cannot lend as they rebuild their capital posit...