Population
Demography is a hot topic, and with good reason. With birth rates well below the replacement rate, the country’s population is shrinking fast. In line with current trends, the government...
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National Flag
The Japanese national flag is among the world’s most recognisable. A red circle on a white background, the design symbolises the rising sun. The exact origin of the motif is unknown, but...
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Local Time
The whole of Japan observes the same time as Tokyo: nine hours ahead of UTC (Universal Coordinated Time). Daylight saving time is not used, so the clocks never change. See table above for...
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Social & Business Hours
The official working week in Tokyo is Monday to Friday, though many companies also operate on Saturdays. Standard office hours are generally considered 09:00 to 17:00, but this is really...
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Public Holidays
Japan has a generous 15 national holidays per year. Of these, the most significant are the three that fall between late April and early May, creating a ‘Golden Week’ of holidays. A...
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