Japan is an island country located in East Asia.

It is an archipelago consisting of four major islands:

Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku, along with numerous smaller islands. The country is known for
its rich history, culture, and technological advancements. Japan has a population of over 126 million
people and is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Its capital city is Tokyo, which is
also the largest city in Japan.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Japan has a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, where the Emperor serves as the symbolic head of
state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The executive power is vested in the Prime
Minister, who is usually the leader of the political party or coalition with the majority in the House of
Representatives, the lower house of the National Diet. The Prime Minister appoints the Cabinet, which
consists of ministers responsible for various government departments. Japan has a bicameral
parliament, the National Diet, comprising the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.
Members of the House of Representatives are elected through a mixed-member proportional
representation system, while members of the House of Councillors are elected through a combination of
single non-transferable vote and proportional representation. The judiciary is independent and headed
by the Supreme Court. The political landscape features a multi-party system, and the Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) has historically been a dominant force. With a rich history and a modern outlook, Japan's
government and politics blend traditional monarchy elements with a democratic parliamentary
framework.

ELECTION PROCESS

The election process in Japan involves both the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the House
of Councillors (Upper House) of the National Diet. For the House of Representatives, members are
elected through a mixed-member proportional representation system. Voters cast two votes: one for a
candidate in their single-member district, and another for a political party. The candidate with the most
votes in each single-member district wins a seat, and political parties are allocated seats in proportion to
the total number of votes they receive in the proportional representation vote. As for the House of
Councillors, its election employs a combination of single non-transferable vote and proportional
representation. Voters in each electoral district cast one vote for their preferred candidate, and
candidates with the most votes in each district are elected. Additionally, parties submit lists of
candidates for the proportional representation vote, and seats are allocated to parties based on the
percentage of votes they receive. Elections for the House of Representatives are held at least every four
years, while the House of Councillors is up for election every three years, with half of the seats
contested each time. Throughout the process, candidates and political parties campaign to gain public
support, allowing citizens to exercise their right to vote and actively participate in the democratic
process.