Japan a constitutional monarchy situated off the east coast of Asia, has an area of 145,856 sq. mi. (377,819 sq. km.) and a population of 127.13 million. Capital: Tokyo. Japan, one of the three industrial nations of the free world, exports machinery, motor vehicles, textiles and chemicals. ,Founded (so legends holds) in 660 B.C. by a direct descendant of the Sun Goddess, the country was first brought into contact with the west by a storm-blown Portuguese ship in 1542. European traders and missionaries proceeded to enlarge the contact until the Shogunate, sensing a military threat in the foreign presence, expelled all foreigners and served relations with the outside world in the 17th century. (Except for one Dutch outpost in Nagasaki.) After contact was reestablished by Commodore Perry of the U.S. Navy in 1854, Japan rapidly industrialized, abolished the Shogunate and established a parliamentary form of government, and by the end of the 19th century achieved the status of a modern economic and military power. A series of wars with China and Russia, and participation with the Allies in World War I, enlarged Japan territorially but brought its interests into conflict with the Far Eastern interests of the United States and Britain, causing it to align with the Axis powers for the pursuit of World War II. After its defeat in World War II, Japan renounced military aggression as a political instrument, established democratic self-government, and quickly reasserted its position as an economic world power.,, ,See also Burma, China (Japanese military issues, Central Reserve Bank, Federal Reserve Bank, Hua Hsing Commercial Bank, Mangchiang Bank, Chi Tung Bank and Manchukuo), Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaya, Netherlands Indies, Oceania, the Philippines, Korea and Taiwan.,, Rulers:,,, ,Mutsuhito (Meiji), 1868-1912,, ,Yoshihito (Taisho), 1912-1926,, ,Hirohito (Showa), 1926-1989,, ,Akihito (Heisei), 1989-,, Monetary Units:,,, ,1 Sen = 10 Rin,, ,1 Yen = 100 Sen,,