Japan

Japan is the second largest economy in the world, after the United States, at around US$5 trillion in terms of nominal GDP and third after the United States and China in terms of purchasing power parity. Banking, insurance, real estate, retailing, transportation, telecommunications and construction are all major industries. Japan has a large industrial capacity and is home to some of the largest, leading and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles and processed foods. The service sector accounts for three quarters of the gross domestic product.

Demographic Data

Economic Data

Cultural & Other Data

GDP (PPP, $bn)

4348

Capital

Tokyo

Area (sq. km.)

377,835

GDP Real

Growth (%)

-0.4

Other Large Cities

Yokohama, Osaka, Sapporo

Population (million)

127

PerCap GDP ($)

34,200

Primary Language

Japanese

Population

Growth %

-0.191

Prime Lending

Rate (%)

1.68

Urban

Population %

66

% Population

Under 15yrs

13.5

Inflation Rate%

1.8

Urban Growth %

0.2

Population below

poverty line (%)

NA

Unemployment%

4.2

Literacy

(% of population)

99

Agricultural Workers

(% of population)

5

Foreign Direct

Investment($bn)

139.7

Education spending

as % of GDP

3.5

Industrial Workers

(% of population)

28

Debt-External

($bn)

1492

CPI Score

(1-10)*

7.3

Service Workers

(% of population)

67

Exports ($bn)

776.8

Corporate Income Tax %

30

Labor Force (mil)

66.15

Imports ($bn)

696.2

Ease of Doing

Business Ranking **

12

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

05/21/09 $1 = 95 JPN

Franchising Laws Overview

Disclosure Laws:

  • Medium-Small Retail Business Promotion Act requires pre-sale disclosure for certain retail franchise operations.
  • The Japan Fair Trade Commission published the Guidelines on Franchising under the Anti-monopoly Law (the “Guidelines“), which requires pre-sale disclosure in franchising.

Relationship laws:

  • The Guidelines have provisions regarding the vertical restraints imposed by the franchisor on the franchisee.

Registration laws:

  • None.
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